Economic and Environmental Assessment of Sustainable Construction Practices in India: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Interventions

Abstract

The construction sector occupies a pivotal position in India's economic growth trajectory by contributing substantially to national income generation, employment creation, urban expansion, and infrastructure development. However, the rapid expansion of construction activities has simultaneously intensified environmental degradation through excessive resource extraction, increased greenhouse gas emissions, generation of construction and demolition waste, biodiversity loss, and escalating energy consumption. These concerns have generated widespread academic and policy interest regarding the integration of sustainability principles into construction practices. The present study investigates the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable construction practices in India and critically examines the challenges, opportunities, and policy interventions associated with their implementation.

The study adopts a mixed-method research design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Secondary data from governmental reports, sustainability assessments, academic literature, policy documents, and institutional publications are integrated with empirical stakeholder perspectives to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The research evaluates the economic implications of sustainable construction through life-cycle cost perspectives, resource efficiency considerations, productivity enhancement, and long-term financial outcomes. Simultaneously, the environmental assessment focuses on energy efficiency, material conservation, waste minimization, carbon emission reduction, and ecological preservation.

The findings indicate that although sustainable construction practices often involve relatively higher initial investment costs, they generate significant economic benefits over the operational lifespan of projects through reduced energy expenditures, lower maintenance requirements, improved resource utilization, and enhanced market competitiveness. The study further identifies critical barriers to widespread adoption, including inadequate awareness, fragmented regulatory mechanisms, limited technical expertise, insufficient financial incentives, and the perceived risk associated with innovative technologies.