Highway projects mostly at risk in four states

19 May 2020 CW Staff

Photo: For representational purpose

Construction of national highways came to a grinding halt with the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25, 2020, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to the relief of developers, the government allowed resumption of construction from April 20, subject to clearances from district administrations.

But activity remains stalled due to severe shortage of labour and raw material, and difficulty in securing requisite clearances.

What’s more, the Centre has divided districts into red, orange and green zones based on the extent of contagion. Only insitu construction is allowed in red zones until the next announcement.

As per a press note by CRISIL Research, the firm’s analysis of over 270 under-construction national highways indicates the top 10 states account for 80 per cent of the projects.

The zones of maximum risk

Projects are most at risk in four of these states – Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – that account for over a third of the projects.

In Maharashtra, which has 11 per cent of the national highway projects, as much as 55 per cent of it is in red zones.

In Uttar Pradesh, which has the lion’s share of projects under construction at 15 per cent, a third is in the red zones.

Projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, each with over 35 per cent projects in red zones, are also at risk.

In the milieu, for developers, containment of the pandemic and lifting of the extended lockdown are the key monitorables for a return to normalcy.

About a fifth of under-construction NHAI projects are in the red zones of the top 10 states

Those in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are at higher risk

Photo: For representational purpose Construction of national highways came to a grinding halt with the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25, 2020, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to the relief of developers, the government allowed resumption of construction from April 20, subject to clearances from district administrations. But activity remains stalled due to severe shortage of labour and raw material, and difficulty in securing requisite clearances. What’s more, the Centre has divided districts into red, orange and green zones based on the extent of contagion. Only insitu construction is allowed in red zones until the next announcement. As per a press note by CRISIL Research, the firm’s analysis of over 270 under-construction national highways indicates the top 10 states account for 80 per cent of the projects. The zones of maximum risk Projects are most at risk in four of these states – Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – that account for over a third of the projects. In Maharashtra, which has 11 per cent of the national highway projects, as much as 55 per cent of it is in red zones. In Uttar Pradesh, which has the lion’s share of projects under construction at 15 per cent, a third is in the red zones. Projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, each with over 35 per cent projects in red zones, are also at risk. In the milieu, for developers, containment of the pandemic and lifting of the extended lockdown are the key monitorables for a return to normalcy. About a fifth of under-construction NHAI projects are in the red zones of the top 10 states Those in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are at higher risk

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..