This story is from May 10, 2020

Delhi: Pragati Maidan work on, with 45 workers

Delhi: Pragati Maidan work on, with 45 workers
A PWD engineer said the reluctance of workers to come back to Delhi will affect deadlines of infra projects
NEW DELHI: After almost 45 days of income-less existence, locked up in their homes, around 45 labourers headed to Pragati Maidan on Saturday to resume work on the stalled redevelopment of the trade fair grounds. Engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) said they too were glad to be starting operations again, though lack of labour and the still looming danger of Covid-19 infection tempered their enthusiasm.

The group of 45 has restarted work on the Pragati Maidan tunnel. But they number less than half the workforce earlier, and PWD officials are worried about the repercussions of migrant workers refusing to return to Delhi from their home villages. Their life and earnings disrupted by first the ban on construction activities to check pollution last year, then the communal riots in northeast Delhi and finally the total lockdown due to the corona pandemic, most construction workers have fled the capital.
A PWD engineer described the reluctance of workers to come back to Delhi as a big problem that will affect the deadlines of all infrastructure projects in the city. “We have spoken to the labourers. Many are reluctant to return, saying they might not be as lucky in leaving Delhi if another event like this lockdown occurs.”
The fraction of the labour force now at Pragati Maidan is taking all precautions, maintaining the recommended distance from each other, something they said they were doing at home too despite most of them living in single-room houses. Engineers said the workers were being provided masks and hand sanitisers as well as meals on the site.
A labourer said, “The novel coronavirus is a problem all of us have to fight. That is why we have come out of our houses to earn some money.” Another worker was still wary about reporting for duty, but left with no savings, he had no option. However, they only make up a handful of the required labour, and a PWD official said, “There is a major labour shortage and to get things in place will take at least a month’s time. The project work, including the underpasses and the tunnel, will be delayed.”

Other big projects, the Chandni Chowk redevelopment, too will be hit by the manpower shortage. Work began on December 1, 2018 but a deadline is nowhere in sight. The streetscaping project too will miss its 11-month schedule. Another project certain to see a delayed finish date is Phase II of the Rao Tula Ram Marg project involving a skywalk and an underpass. On completion, these will greatly ease traffic movement in the area, especially for students of Delhi University’s South Campus. The 1.5-km underpass will be convenient for the students, while the skywalk will make access to Delhi Metro stations a trouble-free exercise.
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