Highway projects India
Delhi NCR has not been granted permission for the resumption of construction projects as its number of Covid-19 cases remains high. Credit: TeshTesh.

Work on around 70% of highway projects under construction in India has resumed after the Indian Government partially lifted the Covid-19 lockdown for certain sectors.

The government allowed the resumption of work on 260 projects out of a total 375.

However, the highway project in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) continues to be on hold given that the area has reported 2,248 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 48 deaths.

Construction activity remains slow across the country, although the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) eased restrictions on several sectors to restart economic activity in the country.

An official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told The Economics Times that the inter-state movement of new, additional labour has become a problem for sites where more labourers are required.

Some highway projects are also anticipating a shortage in inventory and raw materials in India, the official added.

As per the MHA guidelines, which were issued last week, construction works in rural areas are allowed if they are deemed acceptable by the municipality and if workers are available on site and need not be brought in from different areas.

Another official told the publication: “Our first priority was to get projects started, now we are hoping for things to streamline by the time we have a word on lifting of lockdown.”

Lockdown rules have been eased for construction activities such as roads, irrigation projects, buildings and other kinds of industrial projects.