Construction Workers Locked Down & Out!

30 Mar 2020 Editorial Team

Photo courtesy: Reuters

The Lock Down announcement, in view of the current situation of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 plaguing the economy, should have also provided for the living and travel guidelines for the migrant labour at construction sites. Although the Finance Minister has announced a Construction Workers' Fund , in India, most of the migrant labourers are provided bare living facilities on the construction sites. With the sites being closed under the Lock Down, the construction workers had no option but to fend for themselves. In the absence of any advisory and fearing that they would run out of their accumulated bare minimum savings, since most send all income back to their villages, they decided to walk home. Thousands have chosen to walk from Delhi to villages in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and even Nepal from where they hailed. They would rather rely on the savings back home, their means of subsistence in a bit of land that they own and the family.

Watch this video going viral on construction workers.

Video courtesy: TOI Bareilly

Read my Open Letter to the Finance Minister with recommendations to help the real estate and construction industry recover from the Coronavirus Impact or Covid-19 Impact here.

Also read the Coronavirus or COVID-19 impact of real estate here.

Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) KT Rama Rao had convened a meeting with the Construction & Builders' Association representatives and stated that all the construction and infrastructure companies should take care of the migrant labourers who are working at their sites. Some of the companies have provided such facilities. This directive comes in a bit late as hordes of migrant workers are already on their way home in many states.

A redeeming feature is that several villages have barricaded themselves in and have made it mandatory for the returning city dwellers to accept a 14-day quarantine outside the outskirts of the village in a makeshift residential facility to prevent infection in the villages. This has happened in Maharashtra and in Andhra Pradesh.

About the Author:
Pratap Padode is Founder, ASAPP Info Global Group, and Editor-in-Chief, CONSTRUCTION WORLD. He is also Founder & Executive Director at FIRST Construction Council and Smart Cities Council India.

Infrastructure Energy

03 Nov 2025

Bondada Engineering Posts 153 per cent Revenue Growth

Bondada Engineering (BEL), a leading solar EPC and infrastructure company, announced strong financial results for the half-year ending September 30, 2025. The company achieved a 153 per cent increase in consolidated revenue and a 151 per cent rise in profit after tax (PAT) compared to the previous period. Consolidated revenue reached Rs 12.16 billion, with an EBITDA of Rs 1.43 billion and PAT of Rs 925 million. The company’s order book stood at Rs 59.9 billion, ensuring continued growth momentum. The Renewable Energy segment contributed 78% (Rs 9.5 billion) to total revenue, followed by T..

Culture Circle Unveils Insta Ship for India’s Fastest 24-Hour Delivery

Culture Circle, India’s leading hype and luxury fashion app, has unveiled Insta Ship, a groundbreaking 24-hour delivery feature that allows customers to receive their favourite fashion items within a day of placing an order. This marks India’s first-ever 24-hour delivery initiative in the luxury and hype fashion space, setting new standards for speed and customer experience. Insta Ship provides access to a wide range of premium brands such as Nike, Adidas, Yeezy, Jordan, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Dior, and more, allowing fashion-forward consumers to enjoy their exclusive pieces faster th..

Blue Dart Reports Rs 795 mn Profit in Q2FY26 Results

Blue Dart Express has announced its financial results for Q2FY26, posting a profit after tax of Rs 795 million for the quarter ending September 30, 2025. The company’s revenue from operations stood at Rs 15.49 billion. The company continues to strengthen its infrastructure with strategic investments in ground hubs and automation, boosting network scalability, speed, and accuracy. Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, commented, “Our performance highlights the resilience of our business model. We remain optimistic about growth opportunities in India’s logistics sector, supported by rising ..