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Guide

How to plan a CSR infrastructure project

Most CSR infrastructure projects that go wrong do so before construction starts: an unsuitable site, a budget without a survey, or no agreed owner for the finished asset. These are the steps we follow with CSR teams and NGOs to avoid that.

By the TerraSetu engineering team · Last checked

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The steps

  1. Define the need and the beneficiaries

    Start from the problem: no girls' toilet, falling water levels, overcrowded classrooms. Write down who will use the asset and how many people that is.

  2. Choose and survey the site

    Visit the site, record its boundaries and condition with location-tagged photos, and check access, soil, water and power. For water projects, check the district's groundwater status.

  3. Agree who will own the asset

    Get written consent from the future owner, such as the school, gram panchayat or NGO, before design starts. The company cannot own a CSR-funded asset.

  4. Prepare the DPR and BOQ

    A Detailed Project Report sets out the design, drawings, specifications and timeline. The bill of quantities prices every item, so the budget can be checked line by line.

  5. Fit the budget to financial years

    If the work will cross 31 March, get the board to approve it as an ongoing project and split the payments by milestone, so unspent money can move into the Unspent CSR Account.

  6. Build with regular reporting

    Ask for photos, costs and milestones at least monthly, and keep bills and measurements together for audit.

  7. Hand over and record the outcome

    Complete the handover documents, give the owner a maintenance guide, and record the outcome figures you will report.

What a good CSR proposal for infrastructure includes

  • The need, the location and the number of beneficiaries.
  • Site photos and survey findings.
  • Drawings and a line-item BOQ, not just a lump sum.
  • A timeline with milestones and the payment linked to each.
  • Who will own and maintain the asset after handover.
  • The outcome measures you will report: for example classrooms, toilet seats, or water storage created.

Frequently asked questions

What is a DPR in a CSR project?

A Detailed Project Report: the document that describes what will be built, where, how, for whom, at what cost and on what timeline. CSR committees and NGO boards use it to approve the project.

What is a BOQ?

A bill of quantities lists every item of work, such as excavation, concrete, brickwork and fittings, with its quantity and rate. It lets the funder check the budget and later compare what was built with what was paid for.

How long does a typical CSR construction project take?

It depends on the scope. A toilet block or rainwater harvesting system can take weeks; a school building usually takes months. Weather, approvals and site access matter more than the size alone, so we give a timeline after the site survey.

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