The Bureau of Indian Standards is planning to come out with a new set of rules for construction of tall buildings. This will help officials and infrastructure companies, which are aiming to construct high-rise buildings in many metro cities including Hyderabad. At present, there are no specific rules to guide builders who are taking up mega projects. The BIS has constituted a highlevel committee consisting of seven experts to frame the rules. It is headed by the engineering expert, Aravind Srivastava. The committee will study the design, planning and execution of high-rise structures across the world and will submit its report within three months. Experts have already expressed concern at the absence of a building code for high-rises in India. The structural engineers of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, international experts of high rise buildings and BIS officials had recently discussed the issue, out of which the idea of a committee emerged. Once framed, the rules would be applicable for the construction of all buildings above the height of 25 metres. "Such a code is strictly followed in other parts of the world," said the JNTU professor, Dr N.V. Ramana Rao, one of the members of the BIS committee. "It will fill a much-felt need in India since several high-rise buildings are going to come up in many cities, including Hyderabad," he said. He added that the government would come out with the rules soon after the committee submitted its report. Builders have to consider various aspects such as design, strength, human comfort, and effects of the weather while constructing tall buildings. Construction techniques, project management and on site quality control will also play a key role in ensuring the safety of such buildings. Consultant firms of construction companies have also welcomed the initiative of the BIS. "We expect that there will be a huge demand for flats in high rise buildings in near future," he said. Officials of town planning and urban development departments said that BIS standards would check unsafe construction activity. "New guidelines are imperative for high-rise buildings," said a senior official of municipal administration.