This post is purposefully being published today as a reminder to all those people having properties in Delhi, that they need to submit the property tax by tonight if they want to avoid penalties and late submission dues.

Sheila Tyagi, one of our visitors, has urged us to remind everyone concerned. Thank you Sheila for your concern :-)

Those who have not submitted their taxes over immovable properties may still submit MCD property tax online by tonight without having to pay late fee.

The entire procedure and related links been available on one of our previous posts:
MCD Property Tax | Filing MCD Property Tax Online | FAQs about MCD Property Tax

Hurry up... only a few hours left now. Best of luck. Do ask us in case you have any doubts or need any kind of assistance.

This is the 4th post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR, tag-labeled as -  "SNAPSHOTS". This series is being published here on this blog every Friday to start with. You may also send in some of your splendid photographs relating to our theme and may earn value points adding up to our ongoing BnM's blog promotion contest - 2010

Today's snapshot is from our own archives. We would love to receive your very own caption(s) for this snapshot in the comments section below and/or by email / contact us form.

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Delhi Metro -- Chhugging the Way for Commoners traveling to and fro Delhi-Gurgaon

About the snapshots:

The Delhi - Gurgaon metro rail started its operation on a limited route on the stretch on the 21st June 2010 much to the joy and delight of so many commoners who were waiting for a reliable transport system to ply between India's capital city- New Delhi and the much-happening satellite city of Gurgaon.

Though it will take about a month more for the entire route (Central Secretariat to Gurgaon) to be functional, opening of Qutub Minar - Gurgaon part of the route has given the commuters a better choice than getting stuck in the traffic jams on the roads and lack of reliable public transport.

The snapshots do not need further explanation, as they speak pride for themselves.

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Post title: [Snapshots]: Delhi Metro -- Chhugging the Way for Commoners traveling to and fro Delhi-Gurgaon

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Often when a greenfield project site is in the pipeline ready to hit the ground to take a desired physical shape, it takes enormous time for the managing and executing agencies to get the works rolling with the planned momentum. So, what happens when even the plans are in place on papers, but still the progress isn’t taking off in the required direction? The blame-game starts in such a situation with one agency accusing the others for the delays; the delays in turn becoming compounded; and the project cash flow going negative.

The key to avoid such a gloomy picture at any stage of a project, perhaps more importantly in the beginning stage of the project, is effective planning and monitoring, together with an all-aligned site organization. Since opening the site marks the physical execution of the project, it becomes imperative to take notice of the key points beforehand so that the project site is organized well to perform efficiently and economically.

Key Points

Like any important work, the early stage planning and orientation tools always help in chalking out the success path of the subsequent periods. The things to remember and implement are:

Making a clear picture

Knowing the contract, project requirements, plans, budgets, site organization, schedules and everything related to chalk out a clear picture of the project comes handy to get acquainted with the project. This helps in reducing the buffer time, which often gets wasted at the start of a project.

Earmarking an effective site organization

No matter if you are amongst the Client, the Consultant or the Contractor, it always helps to have an effective and balanced project as well as back-office teams created to suit the specific nature of the project and the project-site. A balanced and motivated team can do wonders in any sort of conditions.

Dividing the site into manageable sections

A site has different needs and functions from time to time. Creating functional and manageable core teams ensure that monitoring and aligning/realigning of the teams as well as the project activities are always under control. Such teams can be enhanced with or merged to garner more strength and skill as the project goes beyond initial embryonic stage.

Micro & Macro planning

Once the project has followed the macro plans, micro scheduling of activities should follow immediately by respective teams, but in concurrence with each and every correlated team. Such schedules and plans should be regularly monitored and updated vis-à-vis the actual progress and availability of resources. This helps in reflecting the bottlenecks and delays to the managers, who can thereafter take remedial measures without affecting the overall progress much.

Time management

It is unavoidable at any project to have automatic balance between the pressure of work and the remaining time in hand. But this bottleneck can be resolved stage by stage with effective time management. The art to learn and master is to prioritize the important activities first than the secondary ones, and planning to cater to the important ones foremost. All successful managers thrive on this very craft of time management on the first place beside of course other trade and/or personal qualities.

Authority and Responsibility

Delegation of suitable authority and responsibility to every functional member of the team is the last, but definitely not the least of the key requirements of a successful site organization. This helps in clear-cut roles that all the team members are required to perform in the organization

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Original Post: Need of Better Planning for Averting Risks in Construction Industry
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This is the 3rd post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR, tag-labeled as -  "SNAPSHOTS". This series is being published here on this blog every Friday to start with. You may also send in some of your splendid photographs relating to our theme and may earn value points adding up to our ongoing BnM's blog promotion contest - 2010

Today's snapshot is from our own archives. We would love to receive your very own caption(s) for this snapshot in the comments section below and/or by email / 'contact us' form.

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BnM's Caption:

Home improvement  --  'Buildings with wholesome beauty'

BnM

About the snapshot:

Some of old readers of BRICKS-n-MORTAR must have seen this picture earlier also in one of our earlier posts. Though already published, we find it imperative to share this pic with our readers again because of a reason.

The reason is to highlight the advantages of having a beautifully planned, constructed and maintained building... be it one's home, office building, commercial complex, etc. The wholesome goodness is attained if and only if details of each and every corner of the building is given the needed emphasis and attention to. Giving one's valuable time in maintaining even the usually lesser visited nooks and corners is what enhances the value and integrity of one's place.

This is what we emphasized in our mentioned earlier post too. Check out that post clicking here if you may feel like. And do provide us your valuable feedback, comments, suggestion, etc. as it helps us bettering our website and endeavor to serve the common man and the professionals alike  :-)

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Original Post: [Snapshots]: Home improvement  --  'Buildings with wholesome beauty'
Related earlier post: 'Buildings with wholesome beauty'~~ Does your dwelling looks all-round beautiful like this?

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As part of BRICKS-n-MORTAR 's round-ups of the ongoing infrastructure development and allied construction / upgradation / rehabilitation related works, which directly or indirectly relate to the successful show of Common Wealth Games 2010 (CWG 2010) to be held in New Delhi -- the capital city of India, today we take stock of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) metro rail construction and erection status of the projects in hand as on date.

The Delhi Metro Rail's mouthpiece had reported the status of its Phase-I and Phase-II projects sometime in the last calender quarter of 2009 as per which the status of the completed projects as well as the target route opening schedules of the corridors undergoing construction being:

Sn.	Name of the Corridor	Approx. Length \(in kms)	Target Route Opening Schedule	Status, as on Date
1	Shahdara - Dilshad Garden	3.09	Commissioned
2	Vishwavidyalaya - Jahangirpuri	6.36	Commissioned
3	Indraprastha - Yamuna Bank	2.10	Commissioned
4	Akshardham - New Ashok Nagar	5.90	Commissioned
5	New Ashok Nagar - Noida	7.00	Commissioned
6	Yamuna Bank - Anand Vihar ISBT	6.17	Commissioned
7	Inderlok - Mundka	15.15	March 2010	Delayed
8	Qutab Minar - Gurgaon	14.47	March 2010	Delayed;   Expected by Jun' 10
9	Central Secretariat – Qutab Minar	12.53	June 2010	Delayed;   Expected by Aug' 10
10	Kirti Nagar – Ashok Park	3.32	June 2010	Delayed
11	Central Secretariat – Badarpur	20.16	September 2010	Likely to meet schedule
12	New Delhi Railway Station– Dwarka Sector 21 (Also called Airport Express Line)	22.70	September 2010	Doubtful to meet deadline; However is given utmost priority
13	Dwarka Sector 9 to 21	2.76	September 2010	Likely to meet schedule
14	Anand Vihar ISBT – Vaishali, Ghaziabad	2.50	September 2010	Likely to meet schedule

With only about 15 weeks left as on date for the opening of the New Delhi hosted Commonwealth Games 2010

(CWG 2010), all the agencies, authorities, civic bodies, government departments, etc. involved in the infrastructure development are racing against time to complete the projects in time. Agencies like DMRC are doing their best in meeting targets, but somehow socks need to be pulled by all concerned in the fag end now.

At the time of publishing this post here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR, it is being contemplated by the agencies concerned to start the Qutub Minar - Gurgaon metro rail line from 21st June 2010, while the Central Secretariat – Qutab Minar stretch of the same line expected to be put to public use by August 2010, if not by end of July 2010.

Another much critical and awaited corridors under construction are the Airport Express Line (New Delhi Railway Station– Dwarka Sector 21) and the Central Secretariat – Badarpur metro rail lines. The same are given utmost priority so as to be completed on schedule.

Lets all wish the agencies concerned the best of luck so that they can meet the target dates. Its demanding and difficult of course, but surely not impossible!

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Original Post: [Taking stock]: Delhi Metro Rail's Delhi - Gurgaon & other Critical Rail Lines | Delhi Metro (DMRC) phase I & II projects' status
Previous related post:  Delhi Metro (DMRC) bridge collapse accident | Corrective Actions on Column Piers with faulty Cantilever Overhangs
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This is the 2nd post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR, tag-labeled as -  "SNAPSHOTS".  This series is being published here on this blog every Friday to start with.
You may also send in some of your splendid photographs relating to our theme and may earn value points adding up to our ongoing BnM's blog promotion contest - 2010

Today's snapshot is from our own archives (BRICKS-n-MORTAR 's Edesk members' collection). Have a look and suggest your very own caption(s) to us in the comments section below and/or by email / 'contact us' form.

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BnM's Caption:

Construction basics  --  'Good Quality Work shows by itself'

A building under construction in South Delhi region, INDIA

>> BnM pics

About the snapshot:

This Snapshot is of a building under construction in one of the prominent colonies of Lajpat Nagar that is located in the heart of South Delhi region.

Its well known that any construction is a visual treat to eyes as well as worth its money if it is executed incorporating top-notch quality work. The edge lines, corners and surfaces of the reinforced concrete framed structure, viz., columns, beams, slabs, etc. are absolutely clean, with no significant signs of honeycombing or bad form work.

The masonry (brickwork) is neat and tidy with the bricks looking well-burnt, and the brick joints nicely raked and finished with equal mortar bands. The other structural and/or non-structural elements like lintels, stairs, sunshades, etc. are also equally well done.

THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED COMPREHENSIVE QUALITY WORK.
Credit to the owners and the construction team involved with the project..

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Original Post: [Snapshots]: Construction basics  --  Good Quality Work shows by itself

Previous related post:  [Snapshots]: Roadside Graffiti -- Standing tall.. fighting the headwinds
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A typical dream home construction of one's choice would require certain budget to carry out and finish the construction works.

One would require to properly estimate and workout a budget, which not only helps him/her in arranging the requisite funds at respective time schedules, but also assist the home owner to check if he/she is exceeding his/her pocket.

To plan and foresee the estimated costs, one would require to have certain amount of knowledge so as to have a basic understanding of things as well as tools to monitor the expenses involved.

Indicative Cost Components of a typical Home Construction

India's premier cement manufacturing company, ACC 's website, furnishes a very nice graphical representation of the typical breakup and contributing percentage of each of the major cost-head that is involved in incurring expenses during the construction of a home.

The graphical representation provides a broad estimate of the cost of materials, labour and other items as a percentage of the total expenditure.

Typical cost components of a home construction

The illustration lists the cost heads and respective cost components as following:

1. Design fees  -  3 to 5%
2. Contractors' payments, etc.  -  up to 12%
   
3. Earthworks (excavation, back filling, disposal of surplus soil, etc.)  - 2 to 6%
4. Cement  -  10 to 14%
5. Sand  -  3 to 5%
6. Stone aggregates (stone metal chips)  -  2 to 4%
   
7. Water  -  up to 2%
8. Rebar / Reinforcement steel  -  up to 6%
9. Masonry  -  8 to 10%
10. Flooring  -  3 to 7%
11. Shuttering (Form work)  -  2 to 4%
12. Electrical works  -  4 to 6%
13. Doors, Windows, Gates, Shutters, etc.  -  up to 10%
14. External works (boundary, drainage, landscaping, etc.)  -  8 to 10%
15. Plumbing and Sanitary works  -  up to 12%
16. Painting and finishing  -  up to 12%
    
17. Other (miscellaneous) expenses  -  up to 15%

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative based on a typical home construction primarily in reinforced cement concrete. The percentages and items will vary from case to case.

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Related earlier post:

• Importance Of Budgeting in Construction Practices
• A basic guide about what it all requires to be an entrepreneur in Construction field

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Today, the 5th day of June, is the World Environment day.

I've read quite a lot of articles in the news prints as well as watched many a programmes on the TV today about the topic. All of these programmes and newsprint articles essentially comprised of eco-awareness debates, news round-ups, sponsored construction project propaganda (ofcourse it means the paid commercial content on the TV by respective realtors), and what not.

While most of the printed / telecast content focused on telling what are Green Buildings, thereby stressing the plus points that we the earthlings can harness adopting such green way of living; the others focused on describing carbon credits and how irresponsible we have become by not adopting the new mantra of green living.

But, it was this small printed content in India's one of the leading media house's newspaper- Mail Today -- that stood out of all the other content.

Though I've not taken their formal permission to share this informative content on this blog submitting this in the form of a guest post, yet I do firmly believe that sharing such real-meaningful informative newsprint-content is alright in all senses since this is the right kind of information that one would need so as to understand the real meaning of GOING GREEN.

Sharing herewith the content with due credit to the people behind this content in Mail Today. This content lists out and briefly explains about the 5 common myths that we all usually associate the Green Buildings Concept with...

1. A green building is one that is surrounded by a tree cover: Not necessarily. It is about the right mix of design and construction techniques, materials and implementation which determines a green building.
   
   
2. Green housing is expensive: Actually green buildings can be cost-effective. Green buildings offer a lot of savings in the long run through energy savings. This helps the customer to repay the additional costs within three to four years. Reasonable levels of sustainable design can be incorporated into most building types at little or no additional cost
   
   
3. Golf course is a great example of a green development: On the contrary, golf course is one of the most non-green development factors. It consumes high volume of water and fertilizer
   
   
4. Green building is all about technology and material: Yes, and more. Green buildings are not only about the materials and technology used for the construction. Importance is also given on the location of the building, sunlight penetration and wind direction. Moreover, such buildings also take into account water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, etc. It’s about understanding the locality of your building
   
   
5. Green buildings do not look good and have a weird architecture: With new architectural designs, green buildings can actually be quite attractive. The application of design expression is no different from traditional architecture.

Suggested stuff of interest on Amazon.com:

             

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We are glad to announce the start of a new series -  "SNAPSHOTS"  from today onwards that shall be published here on this blog every Friday to start with.

The idea for this new series has been given by one of our newer visitors and subscriber, named Kamal Pal, who is a fresh architecture graduate hailing from the beautiful city of Jaipur located in the northern state of Rajasthan, India.

Kamal receives 15 points for the picture he has shared with us + 10 bonus points for the idea towards the ongoing BnM's blog promotion contest - 2010

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Caption:

'POWER-PLAY' ::  Roadside Graffiti -- Standing tall.. fighting the headwinds

>> BnM pics

'POWER-PLAY' ::  Roadside Graffiti -- Standing tall.. fighting the headwinds

About the snapshot:

All of us see the power transmission lines and the structural towers which support these transmission lines. But, have you ever looked a bit closely and analyzed how intricate their design must be?

Take a look again. The next time you come across one while traveling on a highway or while traversing country roads, pay an extra look admiring the otherwise lifeless looking structures. These giant yet so very humble looking structures as well as their designers deserve your admiration, you shall observe.

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Blog Post Title: Roadside Graffiti -- Standing tall, fighting the headwinds

Suggested stuff of interest on Amazon.com:

                 

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