India unveils world’s first 3D-printed post office

Claimed to be a world first, the project has drawn praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Union Railways & Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. India's L&T Construction worked with Danish firm COBOD’s 3D printing technology to deliver the build, which was completed in just 43 days – two days ahead of schedule. L&T believes a regular build would have taken approximately eight months.

"It is because of the robotic intervention that involves pre-embedded designs, that we were able to complete the entire construction activity in a period of 43 days as compared to about eight months taken by the conventional method,” said George Abraham, head of Operations (South and East) at L&T.

The post office spans a floor area of 1,021 square feet (94.9 m²) and according to L&T is estimated to have cost 2.6 million rupees (£25,000), roughly 40 per cent lower than the cost of conventional construction. L&T, who had previously 3D printed India’s first two-story building, used COBOD's BOD2 3D construction printer to deliver the project.

"Utilising the full form-freedom of 3D Construction Printing with this masterpiece project, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is perfectly showing how the technology is well implemented,” said Simon Klint Bergh, COBOD's co-founder and head of APAC.

“We're honoured to collaborate with innovators who not only envision the future but actively shape it. I cannot wait to see more great projects coming from Larsen & Toubro in the near future!”

The post office was inaugurated by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who said the project embodied the spirit of Bengaluru and modern India. This praise was echoed by Indian premier Narendra Modi in a social media post that has been viewed more than three million times.  

“Every Indian would be proud to see India's first 3D printed Post Office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru,” Modi said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “A testament to our nation's innovation and progress, it also embodies the spirit of a self-reliant India. Compliments to those who have worked hard in ensuring the Post Office's completion.”