WHO WILL FIND IT USEFUL?

The Construction Specification Institute India addresses the issues faced by all those who are involved in the "Life cycle of any facility".

Construction activities add substantially to the economic development of our country. The share of construction to the gross fixed capital formation is of the order of 45 to 50%. The size of national investment for the ninth five year plan (1997-2002) at 1996-97 prices is around Rs. 2200 thousand crores (US$ 450 Billion). Construction contributes about 5% of the GNP.

The construction industry in India is highly labor intensive. From a work force of 15 million in 1995, it is expected to exceed a figure of 32 million by year 2005. Construction activities cover various categories of construction such as buildings, industries, infrastructure and other special purpose projects. Whether the projects are small, medium, large or mega, every project is unique and involves deployment of scarce available resources in an efficient manner. India's massive development plans present enormous challenges particularly to the construction industry. With the policy of the government towards liberalization and globalization, the construction industry has to be really competitive nationally and internationally.

Most of the projects continue to face both time and cost overruns. Among several reasons which impede successful project implementation, an important one which was identified relate to lack of order in general construction sector. This has been a major concern for the government. Recognizing the need to bring order and to strengthen the construction sector, the Planning Commission (Government of India) and the Construction Industry established Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) in 1996 to act as an apex body to protect, promote and project the interests of the construction sector on a broad scale. CIDC would focus on ensuring quality, speed, economy and efficiency in all construction activities. Besides being competitive, the construction industry has to be responsive to the economic, technical, environmental and social changes and public policies.

Another area of concern is the lack of communication among the members of the construction team and the absence of an integrated approach to construction. Lack of uniformity in construction documentation practices was another factor which impacted on orderly implementation.

Several agencies such as Central and State Government, Public and Private Sector Organizations are involved in construction activities. All these agencies have developed their own specifications and practices related to bidding, contracting, constructing and commissioning. These documents vary considerably in their scope and content. Established departments such as Central Public Works Department, Railways, Military Engineering Services etc. have brought out orderly documents. However, there are increasing incidents of disputes, claims, delays and cost overruns due to the specifications not being clear, concise, correct, complete and consistent.

A group of professionals from the construction industry in our country met informally to discuss about the problems due to the lack of uniform construction documentation and practices in India. The members of this team met with fellow architects, engineers and other construction related personnel. As a result of such interaction, they strongly felt the need to set up CSI India to assist the construction industry in the area of uniform construction documentation. A General Meeting of these members was held at New Delhi in Feb. 1999. It was unanimously decided in this meeting to establish CSI India as a non-profit society for advancing the state-of-the-art in construction specifications writing. CSI India was then registered as a non-profit society.

The principal aims and objects of CSI India are to foster and promote the interest of persons, firms, groups, associations, corporations and others engaged in any phase of writing, preparing, compiling, or in any way utilizing specifications in the construction and allied industries. In addition to promoting improved specification practices, the Institute would serve as a clearing house of unbiased technical information related to construction. The Institute would collaborate with universities and other institutes in the areas of research, studies, training and career development. The collaborative arrangements would include both domestic and overseas professional bodies and organizations.

The Institute wrote to CSI USA in March, 1999 about its formation and requested for a close association between the two Institutes. At the invitation of CSI USA, the Director, and Chairman - Technical Committee of the Institute attended the 43rd Annual Convention and Exhibit held at Los Angeles, USA in June 1999. They had very meaningful and rewarding discussions with the following officers of CSI USA.

Ms. Alana S Griffith - President, (1999- 2000) Mr. Kenneth E Guthrie - President, (1998- 1999) Mr. James A Chaney - Vice President Mr. Gregory Balestero - Executive Director.

The chiefs of the following construction related organizations had given letters fully supporting the activities of CSI India which were of immense help in strengthening the case for cooperation with CSI USA.

Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council Signing of the agreement

A follow-up visit was made for discussions with the Executive Director CSI USA in February, 2000 at CSI offices in Alexandria, VA, USA. The Board of CSI USA had approved the General Cooperation Agreement in February, 2000. At the invitation of CSI USA, the General Cooperation Agreement was signed in Jun, 2000 at CSI USA's 44th Annual Convention and Exhibit at Atlanta, USA. The Agreement was signed by the following:

CSI USA

Ms. Alana S Griffith - President, (1999- 2000)
Mr. Gregory Balestero - Executive Director

CSI INDIA

Mr. Vijay K. Poddar - Director
Mr. T. K. Ramanathan - Chairman Technical Committee

Mr. James Chaney CSI USA's President for the year 2000-2001, was also present during the photo signing ceremony. With the signing of the Agreement, CSI USA was going outside of USA and Canada for the first time.

The signing of the Cooperation Agreement with CSI USA, is an important milestone for the Institute. CSI USA in their August, 2000 issue of "News Digest" has published an excellent write-up on the signing of the Agreement between the two Institutes.

With this Agreement, both the Institutes agree to cooperatively work together to improve the process of creating and sustaining the built environment, to better serve the needs of the members and the practitioners in the construction industry throughout the world.