: Approved plinth area rates for Class-A load-bearing structures with RCC slab (Ground Floor) are ₹11,685.00 per sq.m .
: Estimates must include "Extra Percentages" for specific zones: Chennai Corporation & 32km belt : +20%. tamilnadu pwd standard data book for buildings
| Item | Unskilled | Skilled (Mason/Carpenter) | |------|-----------|---------------------------| | Earthwork in excavation (hard soil) | 2.5 – 3.0 m³ | – | | Cement concrete (1:4:8) mixing & laying | 4.0 m³ | – | | RCC (1:2:4) with vibrator | – | 2.5 m³ (mason) | | Brickwork in CM 1:6 | 2.0 m³ | 1.25 m³ | | 12 mm plastering | 10 m² | 15 m² | : Approved plinth area rates for Class-A load-bearing
Basic costs for sand, cement, steel, and bricks. Annexure III Annexure III While it must evolve to keep
While it must evolve to keep pace with technological advancements, its fundamental purpose remains unchanged: to ensure that every rupee spent on public infrastructure is accounted for, justified, and standardized. In the architecture of governance, the Standard Data Book is the invisible foundation upon which the trust between the citizen and the state is built.
To understand the gravity of the SDB, one must first appreciate the chaotic alternative. Without a standard reference, construction estimation is subjective. One engineer might estimate that laying 100 square feet of flooring requires ten man-days, while another might estimate eight. This discrepancy creates fertile ground for inflation, corruption, and litigation. The Tamil Nadu PWD, tasked with maintaining the state's vast network of government buildings—from rural schools to multi-story administrative complexes—cannot function on subjective judgment.