Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: The Indian Buildings Congress (IBC), Odisha Centre, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), organised a technical conference on National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026 in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The conference focused on the need to create safe, sustainable and resilient built infrastructure in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
“Engineers should change their approach towards construction, keeping the future of the country and the states in mind. Modern public infrastructure should be designed with 100-year durability and disaster resilience as important considerations. There is also a need to adopt green infrastructure and modern technologies in construction projects to reduce construction time,” said Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, who attended the programme as the chief guest.
Former BIS Director General Sanjay Pant said widespread awareness about safety standards and the new provisions of NBCS was essential. He emphasised that the standards should reach people at the grassroots level.
Arun Kumar Saravanan, Head of the NBC Unit at BIS, explained key aspects of NBCS 2026 and the need for effective implementation of the new standards.
V. Suresh, Chairman of the National Building Code Committee, said the revised code incorporates several important provisions relating to green infrastructure, sustainable and alternative construction materials, IoT-based standards, building safety and modern construction practices. He stressed that effective implementation of NBCS 2026 would contribute to creating affordable, sustainable and safe buildings.
The conference also discussed the importance of maintenance, structural safety, fire safety, health and life safety, as well as the need for periodic inspection and auditing of buildings. It was suggested that buildings more than 10 years old should undergo appropriate structural audits through trained and licensed auditors, in accordance with applicable regulations.
The speakers called for greater adoption of modern technology, skilled manpower, efficient monitoring systems and sustainable construction practices in the state.
IBC representatives said the organisation would continue working towards improving awareness and implementation of the new standards among engineers, architects, government agencies and other stakeholders.
Among those present at the programme were Bipin Padhy, Professor Dr P.K., Ashok Basa, Advisor, IBC Odisha Centre; Subhendu Bhattacharya, Secretary, IBC Odisha Centre; Taraknath Chakraborty; Manoranjan Mishra; and members of the NBCS expert committee and IBC Governing Council.
The conference was attended by around 250 participants from different fields. Speakers called upon the concerned authorities and professionals to ensure strict compliance with the new building standards.
The seminar highlighted a 100-year perspective in infrastructure planning, disaster-resilient construction, green and sustainable infrastructure, adoption of modern construction technology, implementation of NBCS 2026, greater awareness of building standards among stakeholders, structural audits of older buildings, use of trained and licensed auditors, improved fire, health and life safety, promotion of alternative and sustainable construction materials, adoption of IoT and modern monitoring systems, development of skilled manpower, and effective implementation of NBCS 2026 across Odisha.
The event was planned, designed and curated by Subhendu Bhattacharya, Hon. Secretary of the Indian Buildings Congress, Odisha Centre, under the guidance of Manoranjan Mishra, former Special Secretary, Works Department and Governing Council Member of IBC, and Bijoy Chandra Tripathy, Vice-President, Indian Buildings Congress.
