Shriram Properties deploys painting robots, explores robotic tiling

On October 2, 2026, Shriram Properties was reported to be using robots from Indian startups for building painting and exploring robotic solutions for tiling. The company said labour shortages in parts of Tamil Nadu and North India were prompting it to consider ways to reduce reliance on manual work.

The automation effort is limited in scale so far. It is intended to support construction delivery across a pipeline reported at 41 projects with about 34 million sq ft of aggregate development potential, including 16 million sq ft of ongoing projects.

The details

Murali Malayappan, Chairman and Managing Director of Shriram Properties, said robotics involves higher upfront capital expenditure. He said the economics could improve when equipment is used across multiple projects and its cost is recovered over a longer period.

The company estimated construction costs had risen by 8%–10%. Malayappan pointed to increases in the cost of lifts, CP fittings, sanitary fittings and tiles, attributing the rise particularly to geopolitical tensions. The company’s stated rationale for automation is to reduce dependence on manual labour and support construction timelines and finish quality.

Chennai-based construction-robotics startup Vividobots Private Limited is developing technology for construction work. Its Founder and CEO, Dhinesh Babu, said demand was emerging for robots used in interior and exterior plastering. The company said its robot was in the pilot stage and estimated that its technology could reduce labour requirements by 60%–70% against conventional methods. Vividobots estimated costs at around 30%–50%, depending on the project; those figures describe the startup’s technology, not measured outcomes from Shriram Properties’ deployments.

• Shriram Properties’ reported pipeline: 41 projects and about 34 million sq ft of development potential.
• Ongoing projects within that pipeline: 16 million sq ft.
• Estimated construction cost increase: 8%–10%.
• Vividobots’ estimated labour reduction: 60%–70% compared with conventional methods.

For home buyers, the potential relevance is operational: automation could help address labour constraints and support construction execution. The company’s comments do not establish a project-level delivery impact or a change in buyer-facing prices.

The developer

Shriram Properties focuses primarily on mid-market and mid-market premium housing, alongside plotted development. It says it began operations in Bengaluru in 2000 and operates in Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata; the company has also entered Pune.

As of April 30, 2026, the company reported 51 projects delivered and 31.5 million sq ft of saleable area. Its website listed a pipeline of 41 projects with 35.3 million sq ft, while the October 2 report cited about 34 million sq ft of aggregate development potential.

What comes next

Shriram Properties is exploring robotic solutions for tiling, with the company’s use of robotics remaining limited in scale. CREDAI Chennai Youth Wing was also reported to be planning a visit to China later in 2026 to study construction robotisation. The visit had no announced date.

Vividobots’ robotic plastering technology remains at the pilot stage. The developments point to continued interest in automation across construction, while the next steps described by the companies remain exploratory or in testing.