Indian Railways’ First 3D-Printed Gangman Hut in Andhra Pradesh Built in Record 25 Days. Here’s How It Looks

In a bid to expand its efforts towards sustainable development, the Indian Railways has achieved a new milestone by building a 3D-printed gangman hut for the first time. The new 100-square-metre hut is the first of its kind in India, now operational at the Parvatipuram railway station in Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh.

“This cutting-edge project marks the first-ever 3D-printed railway building in Indian Railways and Andhra Pradesh,” said a press release from the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways. It added that the hut provides shelter for track maintenance staff, called gangmen, giving them “rest space, tool storage, and a work base.”

Spanning roughly 100 square metres, the structure was built using a 3D concrete printer, a large robot that prints buildings layer by layer. It is similar to conventional 3D printers but uses special concrete materials instead of thermoplastics or metals. According to RVNL, the printer used materials such as ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) — known for its superior strength and resistance to harsh environments — and lightweight concrete to offer durability while keeping the weight in check. Using these materials also helped the firm speed up the construction process.

The new structure will also help grow connectivity in the region. “This railway line aims to boost freight and passenger capacity, especially in light of growing industrial activity in the nearby regions,” the press note added. The RVNL highlighted that this structure, which falls under the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway zone, will “pave the way for broader adoption of 3D printing in low-cost, quick-build infrastructure projects across India.” 3D printing of structures, it said, is key to reducing construction time and material waste, making the entire process eco-friendly, aligning with the government's PM Gati Shakti and Green India Mission.

The benefits are multi-faceted, with the firm underscoring how 3D printing technology uses complex geometries, textured elevations, and wall patterns that otherwise consume more time and are often difficult to achieve with traditional building processes.

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