Construction ban lifted, but work yet to begin at several infra sites

Gurgaon: Work on infrastructure projects across the city is yet to resume, even though the ban imposed on construction due to high pollution levels has been lifted. Officials said they are still making preparations for resumption.
The ban was lifted on Monday. Officials of both the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the public works department (PWD) said several labourers have left the project sites, and it will take some days for them to return.
“We have issued directions for resuming work at our project sites. It may take a couple of days for construction to actually begin on the ground, since workers will have to be mobilised. Many of them have left the sites because there was nothing happening for so many weeks,” said a senior official from NHAI, which is undertaking two of the biggest projects in the city —Dwarka Expressway and Sohna elevated road.
PWD reiterated this: “The ban was in place almost continuously for one month, so all labourers have left construction sites and gone to other places. We are calling them back and hope to resume work in another day or two,” an official said.
Apart from its own projects, PWD is executing two major projects on behalf of the GMDA Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) — the construction of an underpass and flyover at Atul Kataria Chowk, and the construction of an underpass, walkways, and service lanes at Mahavir Chowk.
GMDA officials, meanwhile, said they started construction at some of their project sites on Monday. However, with the strength of workers still low, work is yet to begin in full swing.
“Some workers were present at some of our sites, and we have started construction. We have mobilised the remaining workers as well and expect to see increased numbers from Tuesday,” said a senior GMDA official.
Officials from PWD, NHAI, and GMDA all, however, admitted that the construction ban — first imposed from November 14 to November 21, and then again from November 24 onwards — is going to have an impact on project deadlines.
“Our deadlines will naturally be affected because construction being halted for one month means the loss of a lot of time,” said the GMDA official.
Meanwhile, PWD said their projects will be delayed, adding that contractors “will get the benefit of extension”. “Our deadlines may be affected. We are hopeful of making up for lost time,” the NHAI official said.
An official privy to the Dwarka Expressway project, however, said, “The deadline will definitely be affected by work being stopped for a month. Our project is already at a very critical stage and on a very tight deadline, so the ban will have an impact.”
Credit Source – https://ift.tt/3FvXWZn

The post Construction ban lifted, but work yet to begin at several infra sites appeared first on Stay in Gurgaon.