A post office at Bengaluru's Cambridge Layout is making news today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as an example of India's self-reliance. Inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, this is India's fist 3D-printed post office building.

With a built-up area of 1,021 square feet, the building was constructed by Larsen and Toubro, with technical guidance from IIT Madras. The construction was carried out over a span of 45 days, for a cost of Rs 23 lakh, Moneycontrol reported.

3D printing technology helps reduce the time and cost for construction, making it a viable alternative to conventional techniques. Using this technology to print buildings can save costs upto 30 per cent when compared to traditional construction technology, experts say.

The spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat!

🇮🇳India’s first 3D printed Post Office.



📍Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/57FQFQZZ1b — Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 18, 2023

Speaking after the inauguration, Vaishnaw, who holds the Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT portfolios, said the state-of-the-art building used 3D concrete printing technology, which is a fully automated building construction technology where a robotic printer deposits the concrete layer-by-layer as per the approved design. Special grade concrete that hardens quickly is used to ensure bonding between the layers to print the structure.

He added that the spirit of development, the spirit of developing our own technology, the spirit of doing something which was considered impossible in the earlier times.

Every Indian would be proud to see India's first 3D printed Post Office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru. A testament to our nation's innovation and progress, it also embodies the spirit of a self-reliant India. Compliments to those who have worked hard in ensuring the Post… pic.twitter.com/Y4TrW4nEhZ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2023

The Union minister lauded IIT Madras for the guidance and hoped the technology becomes mainstream.

Modi, too, posted a note of appreciation on X and said the post office building is a 'testament of our nation's innovation'.

According to reports, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated India's first 3D-printed house, on the campus of IIT Madras in 2021. Built by the IIT's startup Tvasta, the house included a bedroom, kitchen and living room.