Aspiring to become a civil engineer? But not sure about your decision? 

Read this article to get the complete understanding of the real estate industry in India and job opportunities for the new entrants and how SVCE helps to pursue your dream career in this core sector. 

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines, Civil Engineering involves planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and supervising infrastructures which include facilities essential to modern life like highways, bridges and tunnels, schools, hospitals, airports and other buildings, sewage systems and water treatment facilities. Subsequently, the course also involves protecting the public and environmental health as well as improving existing infrastructure.

Introduction

The real estate sector is one of the most globally recognized sectors. The real estate sector comprises four sub-sectors – housing, retail, hospitality, and commercial. Students are unaware of the scope and the future of Civil Engineering in India in the next ten years. So, let us delve into the understanding of what the civil engineering future trends entails.

The growth of this sector well complements the growth of the corporate environment as it will give way to the demand for office space as well as urban and semi-urban accommodations. The construction industry ranks third among the 14 major sectors in terms of direct, indirect and induced effects in all sectors of the economy.

It is also expected that this sector will incur more non-resident Indian (NRI) investments in both the short term and the long term. Bengaluru is expected to be the most favored property investment destination for NRIs, followed by Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Goa, Delhi, and Dehradun.

Some of the major investments and developments in this sector are as follows:

• First REIT raised Rs 4,750 crore (US$ 679.64 million) and was launched earlier in 2019 by the global investment firm Blackstone and realty firm Embassy group.
• In January 2019, Ascendas acquired Chennai’s Pallavaram IT Park for US$ 35.70 million.
• Iconic RK Studios property which is located in suburban Chembur, acquired by Godrej Properties.
• New housing launches across top seven cities in India are expected to increase 32 per cent year-on-year by 2018 end to 193,600 units.
• In September 2018, Embassy Office Parks announced that it would raise around Rs 52 billion (US$ 775.66 million) through India’s first Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listing.
• New housing launches across top seven cities in India increased 50 per cent quarter-on-quarter in April-June 2018.
• In May 2018, Blackstone Group acquired One Indiabulls in Chennai from Indiabulls Real Estate for around Rs 900 crore (US$ 136.9 million).
• In February 2018, DLF bought 11.76 acres of land for Rs 15 billion (US$ 231.7 million) for its expansion in Gurugram, Haryana.

Government Initiatives for civil engineering future plans

The central and state Government of India have taken several initiatives to encourage development in this sector. The Smart City Project, to build 100 smart cities, is a prime opportunity for real estate companies. Below are some of the other major Government Initiatives:

• In order to revive around 1,600 stalled housing projects across the top cities in the country, the Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of an Rs 25,000 crore (US$ 3.58 billion) alternative investment fund (AIF).
• Blackstone crosses the US$ 12 billion investment milestone in India.
• Puravankara Ltd, a realty firm plans to invest around Rs 850 crore (US$ 121.6 million) over the next four years to develop three ultra-luxury residential projects in Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai.
• Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) [PMAY (U)], 1.12 crore houses have been sanctioned in urban areas creating 1.20 crore jobs.
• The Government has created an Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) in the National Housing Bank (NHB) with an initial corpus of Rs 10,000 crore (US$ 1.43 billion) using priority sector lending shortfall of banks/financial institutions for micro financing of the HFCs.
• As of September 16, 2019, India had formally approved 419 SEZs, of which 234 were in operation.
• In February 2018, creation of National Urban Housing Fund was approved with an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore (US$ 9.27 billion).

Road Ahead

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given its approval for the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) platform, which will help in allowing all kinds of investors to invest in the Indian real estate market. It would create an opportunity worth Rs 1.25 trillion (US$ 19.65 billion) in the Indian market over the years. Responding to an increasingly well-informed consumer base and, bearing in mind the aspect of globalisation, Indian real estate developers have shifted gears and accepted fresh challenges. The most marked change has been the shift from family-owned businesses to that of professionally managed ones. Real estate developers are also investing in centralised processes to source material and organise manpower and hiring qualified professionals in areas like project management, architecture, and engineering to meet the growing need of managing multiple projects across cities,

The growing flow of FDI into Indian real estate is encouraging increased transparency. Developers have revamped their accounting and management systems to meet due diligence standards to attract funding. 

In 2019, housing affordability showed a marked improvement. We also saw a plethora of launches in the market. In 2020, Knight Frank expects the GDP growth to touch 6-6.5% by next year. It also expects the real estate sector to maintain its momentum.

Despite the weakness in the economy, real estate remained stable in 2019 and could revive in the new year, says a report by Knight Frank. Housing prices either fell or remained flat. Among the launches,  61% were in the affordable housing segment.

Now, Knight Frank expects the gross domestic product (GDP) growth to touch 6-6.5% by next year. It also expects the real estate sector to maintain its momentum. Here’s how prices and sales moved in eight top metros in India.

Scope of Civil Engineering:

Civil engineering demand

According to a report published in The Economic Times, 95 billion sq. Ft. is the predicted demand in the real estate and construction industry by 2020. Despite such high demand, the sector lacks sufficient workforce to meet this demand. Based on the report titled “Real Estate and Construction Professionals in India by 2020” by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, there is a demand-supply gap ranging between 82% and 86% of skilled civil engineers, architects, and others. This means our country needs 4 million skilled civil engineers until next year. These are a few statistics that make it clear that there is a massive demand for these professionals in the near future.

Growth

As a country, we are developing faster than ever, especially when it comes to infrastructure. Forty years ago, nobody would have thought that the commute between Bandra and Worli could have been completed in lesser than 40-50 minutes. Today, we can cover this distance in just eight minutes. This is only possible due to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) constructed in the Arabian sea, built by our civil engineers.

The BSWL is just one of the many examples that show how we are coming up with innovative solutions to meet the changing requirements. The requirement for such modern developments is bound to grow. If students are willing to work on groundbreaking developments, Civil Engineering provides them with room to grow and a chance to hone their skills.

International market value

The future of Civil Engineering is not just limited to the geographical boundaries of our country. According to a report by Global Market Insights Inc. on GlobeNewswire, the Civil Engineering industry is expected to reach a size of USD 11.72 trillion by 2025. One of the main reasons for such rapid development of this engineering discipline is the rise in population and urbanisation. By completing a programme from one of the best engineering institutes, students can work on sustainable infrastructure solutions, green buildings, and more all over the globe.

Variety

Today, Civil Engineering is not just related to constructing roads, buildings and bridges. Due to the advancement in technology, and industry-demand, this branch is further divided into 4-5 types. Civil engineering aspirant can consider leading a career in any one of the engineering niches mentioned below:

• Hydraulics & Water Resources
• Coastal and ocean
• Structural
• Transportation
• Materials
• Urban

These are just a few fields. As we develop, this branch will have a lot more to offer than it did ten years ago.

These are a few points that explain how and why this sector will boom very soon. This field has a lot to offer. We only need to learn how to make the most of it with the right kind of education and skills. With this unique combination, Civil Engineering aspirants are set for a brighter tomorrow. 

Civil Engineering: Types of Job Profiles

Civil engineers get recruited by the Public Works Department, Central Public Works Department, Railway Recruitment Board, Highways Department, Construction Firms, Defence Forces Development Boards, Municipal Bodies, etc. They work in public and private sectors in all branches of design, construction, maintenance of roads, highways, bridges, dams, canals, docks, airports, housing complexes and in environmental management, etc. Civil engineers also work in quality testing laboratories, Military and defence services and as consultants.

Take a look at some of the job profiles that civil engineers land into after graduation. 

Other Job Profiles for Civil Engineers

• Architectural Engineer
• Bridge Engineer
• Buildings and Bridge Engineer
• Cartographic Engineer
• Civil Inspection Engineer
• Coastal Engineer
• Concrete Engineer
• Construction Engineer
• Construction Project Engineer
• Consulting Civil Engineer
• Dams Engineer
• Drainage Design Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Foundation Engineer
• Geodetic Engineer
• Geomatics Engineer
• Highway Engineer
• Hydraulics Engineer
• Hydrographic Engineer
• Hydrological Engineer
• Irrigation And Drainage Engineer
• Land Drainage Engineer
• Materials And Testing Engineer, Civil
• Municipal Engineer
• Navigation And Positioning Engineer
• Ocean Engineer
• Photogrammetric Engineer
• Pipeline Engineer, Civil
• Pollution Control Engineer
• Precision Survey Engineer
• Public Health Engineer
• Public Works Engineer
• Rail Transportation Traffic Engineer
• Reclamation Engineer
• Remote Sensing Engineer
• River And Canal Works Engineer
• Sanitary Engineer
• Sewage Control Engineer
• Soil Engineer
• Solid Waste Management Engineer
• Spatial Information Systems Engineer
• Structural Design Engineer
• Surveying Engineer
• Traffic Operations Engineer
• Transportation Engineer
• Tunnel Engineer
• Urban Road System Engineer
• Water And Sewer Engineer
• Water Management Engineer
• Water Resources Engineer
• Water Systems Engineer
• Water Treatment Engineer

Why to choose CIVIL Engineering at SVCE 

• Faculty expertise in diversified areas like Structural Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Mechanics of Materials.
• Excellent lab facilities for Materials testing, Soil testing, Concrete and Highway materials testing, Water and wastewater analysis and Computer Lab for training on Drafting, analysis and design software
• Research activities in core research areas like Green and sustainable building materials, Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Steel structures, Smart Materials, constitutive modelling, seismic isolation, magneto rheological gels
• Consultancy and Testing facilities on Materials testing , Characteristics analysis of Drinking water and Waste water, Wood, bricks and hollow blocks testing, Soil classification, Shear strength of soil sample,Concrete Mix Design,Structural design and drawing
• More opportunities for Industrial training and internships 
• Enhancement of students skills through Civil Engineering Association activities and Students chapters like Indian Concrete Institute (ICI)  and Institution of Engineers (IEI)
• Career guidance and training to take up Competitive exams 
• Value Added Courses  and Hands on Training Sessions on Latest  software for civil engineering applications.
• Motivation for students to enroll in online courses and other certification courses and given due credits.
• Association of faculty with reputed professional bodies 

Source : 

http://bweducation.businessworld.in/ 

https://www.indiatoday.in/ 

https://www.financialexpress.com/ 

https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/ 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ 

https://www.ibef.org/ 

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Civil Engineering involves planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and supervising infrastructures, which include facilities essential to modern life like highways, bridges and tunnels, schools, hospitals, airports, and other buildings, sewage systems, and water treatment facilities. Subsequently, the course also involves protecting the public and environmental health as well as improving existing infrastructure.

Market Size:

By 2040, the real estate market will grow to Rs 65,000 crore (US$ 9.30 billion) from Rs 12,000 crore (US$ 1.72 billion) in 2019. Real estate sector in India is expected to reach a market size of US$ 1 trillion by 2030 from US$ 120 billion in 2017 and contribute 13 per cent of the country’s GDP by 2025. Retail, hospitality and commercial real estate are also growing significantly, providing the much-needed infrastructure for India’s growing needs. Indian real estate increased by 19.5 per cent CAGR from 2017 to 2028.

Sectors such as IT and ITeS, retail, consulting and e-commerce have registered high demand for office space in recent times. Commercial office stock in India is expected to cross 600 million square feet by 2018 end while office space leasing in the top eight cities is expected to cross 100 million square feet during 2018-20. Gross office absorption in top Indian cities has increased 26 per cent year-on-year to 36.4 million square feet between Jan-Sep 2018. Co-working space across top seven cities has increased sharply in 2018 (up to September), reaching 3.44 million square feet, compared to 1.11 million square feet for the same period in 2017. New completion of office space is expected to increase 15 per cent to cross 43.6 million square feet in 2019.

Investments/Developments

The Indian real estate sector has witnessed high growth in recent times with the rise in demand for office as well as residential spaces. Private Equity and Venture Capital investments in the sector have reached US$ 1.47 billion between Jan-Mar 2019. Institutional investments in India’s real estate are expected to reach US$ 5.5 billion for 2018, the highest in a decade. Between 2009-18, Indian real estate sector attracted institutional investments worth US$ 30 billion and received US$ 2.3 billion in the first half of 2019. Real estate attracted around US$ 14 billion of foreign private equity (PE) between 2015 and Q3 2019.

During April-June 2019, the gross leasing of office space doubled to 18.7 million sq ft across eight major cities.

According to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), construction is the fourth largest sector in terms of FDI inflows. FDI in the sector (includes construction development and construction activities) stood at US$ 25.12 billion from April 2000 to June 2019.

Market seems to be fine what the media have to say on this?

India needs Civil engineering skill development for the booming construction industry by India Today

The construction industry will become India’s largest employer by 2022 with 72 million employees. But what does India need to do to supply skilled engineers?

For a developing country like India, infrastructure is predominant for the economic progress of the country. With India’s GDP projected at 7.8 per cent in 2019, skilled professionals are the need of the hour to achieve a continued progression. Being a capital-intensive industry, construction is an imminent contributor to the national economy as the range of consumers of the construction market has varied over the years.

As per industry estimates, the size of India’s construction industry is expected to be USD 1 trillion by 2030 and contribute to 13 percent of the country’s GDP by 2025. Considered as the fastest growing industry, construction is poised to become the largest employer by 2022, employing more than 75 million people. With close to 1.5 million engineers graduating in India every year, the country needs approximately 4 million civil engineers on an average, over the next decade, to deliver potential real estate space and planned infrastructure. Despite the legacy of civil engineering in India, and the huge requirement for qualified professionals working to develop the gaps in infrastructure and real estate, this field of study hasn’t flourished, with the construction sector seeing a 6.27 percent decline in employment according to a recent survey. Raising skill levels, properly equipping the workforce, providing improved welfare and ensuring greater safety on sites will motivate workers and empower them to raise productivity.

Future of Civil Engineering in India in The Next Ten Years- Business World 

In India, whenever one thinks of pursuing a graduation programme, engineering is always on the list. This is because time and again this field has shown how it has grown, adapted to the ever-evolving requirements and given students the knowledge and skills to pursue a fruitful career. Thanks to the increasing demand in the industry and improved scope, this field has branched into Mechanical, Civil, IT, Electronics and Telecommunications and other disciplines. One of these disciplines which stand strong and evergreen is Civil Engineering. 

According to the definition, this branch deals with the design, construction and maintenance of manually or naturally-built environments such as roads, bridges, dams, airports, buildings and more. It is the art of applying Mathematics and Science to create a better place for everyone to live in. From stone-made bridges to cable-stayed eight-lane bridges, we have come a long way only because of successful Civil Engineering.

Despite the role this branch plays in the development of our country, many students often prefer opting for other disciplines. This is mainly because students are unaware of the scope and the future of Civil Engineering in India in the next ten years. So, let us delve into the understanding of what the future of Civil Engineering entails.

NRI investments in Indian real estate to rise to $13.1 bn in FY21

Once a limited force, the expatriate community currently accounts for a sizable part of Indian housing demand.

In the past few years, NRIs have come strength to strength in the Indian housing market. Once a limited force, the expatriate community currently accounts for a sizable part of Indian housing demand. As per a report by 360 Realtors, India’s leading real estate advisory, in FY 21, a total of $13.1 billion of NRI capital is expected to enter the Indian housing industry, growing by 5% on a YoY basis.

As a leading player in the NRI space, 360 Realtors has been tracking the NRI buying patterns over the past few years. As per the data available with the company, NRI investments will rise to $13.1 billion in FY 21 from $6 billion in FY 14, growing by a little less than a CAGR of 11%. Major sources of NRI investments include the USA, Canada, GCC, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. Interestingly, GCC is the biggest source of NRI investments, accounting for around 42% of the total investment inflow. As there is no citizenship option available in the Gulf region, it is natural for the expatriates living there to buy a home in India.

NRIs are one of the crucial growth drivers for the Indian real estate. Post RERA implementation, the confidence levels of NRIs have gone through the roof. Interestingly, NRIs are not buying for end-use, but many are entering the market with a pure-play investment purpose. There are many NRIs who are maintaining a portfolio of properties,” said Ankit Kansal, Founder & MD, 360 Realtors.

Commercial real estate to continue to do well in 2020

The real estate sector is facing tough times for some time now, but the commercial segment is still doing well and also getting the maximum attention of investors.

The commercial segment is still doing well and also getting the maximum attention of investors. In fact, 2019 saw a total PE inflow of $970 million into Indian retail, and commercial realty attracted the maximum private equity investments, totaling nearly $3 billion in the first three quarters. In the retail sector, vacancy levels have come down to 14 per cent in the calendar year 2019. Approximately 7 million square feet of retail space is expected to enter the market in the year 2020, thereby contributing to the overall robust growth of the real estate sector in India.

Growth in this segment is good as investors show great interest in commercial and recently NRIs have also started investing in this segment mainly because of lucrative returns. When we compare the investment in commercial with residential, then it can be said that returns from commercial are better. An increasing number of private equity funds showed interest in the commercial office space in 2018, which was followed by the same in 2019. And now with news

of India’s first REIT trickling in, the trend of commercial office space having an upper hand in real estate assets will stay. There is likelihood of further infusion of liquidity in commercial property and developers will come up with more projects in this segment. Hence, it will create ample civil engineering job opportunities for the future aspirants. 

In India, whenever one thinks of pursuing a graduation programme, engineering is always on the list. This is because time and again this field has shown how it has grown, adapted to the ever-evolving requirements and given students the knowledge and skills to pursue a fruitful career. Thanks to the increasing demand in the industry and improved scope, this field has branched into Mechanical, Civil, IT, Electronics and Telecommunications and other disciplines. One of these disciplines which stand strong and evergreen is Civil Engineering. 

7 reasons why South India continues to be the most preferred destination for real estate

The new policies implemented by the government have created structural changes in the Indian economy, and influenced by this, southern cities have become the focal point for future real estate developments. These cities are providing career opportunities in civil engineering. 

Real estate in India has been experiencing dynamic transformation in recent times with a series of regulatory policies being brought about by the government. Reforms like RERA, demonetisation and GST have changed the landscape of real estate in the country. Even as these changes were being ushered in, South India continued to maintain momentum in real estate and has been a quiet crusader, strengthening and building itself as one of the most sought-after destinations in the country. Consequently, cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are now part of the global real estate map. The new policies implemented by the government have created structural changes in the Indian economy, and influenced by this, southern cities have become the focal point for future real estate developments. 

By limiting new launches, focussing on completing delayed projects and aiming for projects that match consumer demand, housing performance has been fairly good in South India. According to Magicbricks‘s Prop Index Report for Q4 2019, South Indian cities of Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have emerged as the best performing market for 2019.

This approach has been in direct contrast to markets like Delhi NCR and Mumbai, where the developers are facing the challenge of huge inventory pile up, contrary to the situation in South India.

As per a recent report, Bangalore and Hyderabad should be Asia’s fastest and third fastest-growing cities, respectively, over 2020-24. Bangalore should also achieve average annual real GDP growth of 9.9% over 2020-2024 – far above aggregate growth for India of 6.8% and average growth for Asian cities of 3.9% over the same period. Hence, this situation should support demand for investment in property in South India. There are a few key factors outlining why South India has become the preferred destination for real estate in recent times.

1. Presence of robust infrastructure:

Public transport and connectivity are good in the Southern cities and are being made robust further through multiple infrastructure projects. Metro connectivity will completely transform the way people travel, and being pollution-free, it will change the real estate dynamics positively. In Bangalore, the planned key developments are the

completion of the metro with lines covering Whitefield, Bidadi, Bangalore International Airport and Bannerghatta region. A vast suburban rail system has also been planned around Bangalore apart from the construction of the Peripheral Ring Road. Similarly, a 3-deck elevated corridor is all set to give Chennai’s Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) a makeover as the government is planning a multi-deck elevated transport corridor under two phases to decongest the IT Expressway. The developments have compelled many residents to relocate from old residential zones to the new residential hotspots like OMR and ECR in Chennai.

2. Strong IT and Start-up growth:

The astounding growth of the information technology industry, multinationals and public industries in Southern India is to be taken note of. Southern India, especially cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad have emerged as the main arm of the outsourcing business for the US, UK and Europe. With more foreign investors looking to establish their IT back offices in the prime locations of South India, the scope for corporate real estate is immensely high. Start-ups too have emerged very strongly in this region with Bangalore becoming the start-up capital of India. Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are among top 10 cities for start-ups in the country, which now has over 20,000 registered start-ups.

3. Availability of land at reasonable pricing:

The vast availability of land at reasonable prices in the Southern metros as compared to Mumbai and Delhi has led to higher demand for luxury housing. The presence of a high number of urban professionals both from within the cities and due to high migration from other cities seeking enhanced prospects has created a major demand for luxury housing in Southern India.

4. Housing demand across segments:

South India also has a mixed housing development ranging from high-rises to luxury townships that offer access to world-class amenities in a location. The new developments have transformed the skyline of South India with reputed developers initiating landmark projects in metros like Bangalore and Chennai.

5. High retail growth:

Metros in South India have also seen a sharp rise in retail and commercial growth. A slew of supermarkets, malls and leading retail chains has emerged to cater to the rising demand. Millennial have been the driving force behind this change as they seek a superior lifestyle. To cater to their pristine tastes, international and premium Indian brands among others have made their presence felt in the South.

6. Social infrastructure:

South India has always been at the forefront of health and education. Some of the biggest brands in healthcare, and the numerous colleges and universities of repute have their presence in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Millennial and their families have been attracted to these cities due to the availability of a wide choice.

7. Increased Demand from NRIs:

Owing to the vast presence of physical and social infrastructure, the on-time completion of real estate projects and good track record of developers, NRIs are attracted to invest in South India. The overall NRI investment in the primary real estate market in India is estimated to grow to nearly $25 billion by 2022 and a good portion of this is expected to be invested in South India. Quick and high capital appreciation too makes the region an attractive destination for real estate investment. Also, the rupee hovers at levels that inspire NRIs to stick with their investment.

In conclusion, it can be said that South Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are growing at a fast pace with specific micro-markets like Hebbal and Bannerghatta in Bangalore, OMR in Chennai and Shankarapally in Hyderabad performing very well. Real estate houses have immense opportunities in the South to turn people’s dreams into reality and investment into wealth. They are creating the scope of civil engineering in the private sector as well as government sector. A conducive investment climate, the presence of a dynamic professional class, a well-developed corporate ecosystem, and the rapid rise of co-working spaces have all brought sheen to real estate in South India which will experience further boom in the coming years. The next few years look promising for the real estate industry in South India, especially for those firms who have the expertise to add value and capitalize on these opportunities.