The Hindu Business Line : Changing landscape fetching good biz for demolition cos

Mr Samad's company Ideal Enterprises is one of 5,000 demolition companies in Chennai. "Business is good,'' he said. "Currently, I demolish about 20 buildings a month, which is likely to go to 50 next month.''

Chennai's landscape is changing fast, as old bungalows and aged buildings are being razed to the ground to make way for glass and chrome apartments and information technology parks.

Mr Samad likes to believe that he is a cut above the rest. The USP being that he can demolish a building in just 48 hours. This offer comes with a rider that it is possible only if there is a space of 10 feet on all four sides.

In most cases, the demolition companies pay to bring down a building. The rates depend on the kind of material in the building. Their profit comes from the reusable items such as teak doors, windows, beams, steel and iron used in the building. Sometimes, if there is an urgency to pull down the building in two or three days, the builders also pay to get a job done fast.

The material which can be reused is sold either at sites outside the city or at specialty shops. There is a large market for old wooden doors and windows, he said. After getting permission from Chennai Corporation, Mr Samad uses a crane and an earthmover to do the work fast. The rubble is then removed from the site, overnight, to sites outside the city.

He employs 50 labourers who are fully insured. He also plans to use more equipment to finish the work fast.

Mr Samad said the main problem comes from people living and working near a demolition site who object to the noise and dust. "Soothing ruffled feathers goes with the territory and the priority is to see that no one goes to court," he said.

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