Expected delay in projects in Delhi-NCR region post construction ban

11 Nov 2019 CW Staff

The government attributed the increase in pollution levels to various crop burning activities undertaken by neighbouring states – the measures put in place to handle the crisis included a ban on burning crop stubble, resurfacing of the odd-even car regime in Delhi, distribution of around five million masks followed by a ban on construction activities in the area.

The restrictions set in place for construction in the capital were enforced by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to reportedly, manage the severe pollution levels. The ban is set till Monday and further decisions will be taken prior to an assessment of the level of air quality.

The ban will further result in a delay and extension of deadlines for the completion of projects. It is estimated that even if the ban is lifted earlier, it will take a considerable time to reorganise labour and other resources.

As reported, a ban of one day can amount to 10 days’ work and will, therefore, stretch the deadline considerably. The workers have to completely stop all work and start from the beginning, which in turn takes up a major chunk of time. Reassembling labourers too becomes a difficult task as they leave following the ban.

Reportedly, the EPCA had previously put a ban on construction and operation of hot mix plants and stone crushers from 6 pm to 6 am from 26 October to 30 October. Although the ban was extended till 31 October, the body put up a complete restriction on all activities on 5 November.

The main issue to arise out of the ban is the exponential delay in projects. Reportedly, it is expected that in the long run, most developers will be able to make up for the delay but the projects that were almost on the finish line will see a considerable setback.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), charged with the responsibility of monitoring infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.5 billion or more, had earlier released a report for June 2019 according to which – out of the total 1608 projects, the number of projects that had crossed their deadlines amounted to 550.

Adding to the air pollution woes of India, the national capital of the country recently turned into a gas chamber – with a jump in Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 900, crossing the ‘severe plus’ category in various regions. The Delhi Government responded to the massive deterioration in the quality of air by declaring a public health emergency and shutting down schools for a stipulated amount of time. The government attributed the increase in pollution levels to various crop burning activities undertaken by neighbouring states – the measures put in place to handle the crisis included a ban on burning crop stubble, resurfacing of the odd-even car regime in Delhi, distribution of around five million masks followed by a ban on construction activities in the area. The restrictions set in place for construction in the capital were enforced by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to reportedly, manage the severe pollution levels. The ban is set till Monday and further decisions will be taken prior to an assessment of the level of air quality. The ban will further result in a delay and extension of deadlines for the completion of projects. It is estimated that even if the ban is lifted earlier, it will take a considerable time to reorganise labour and other resources. As reported, a ban of one day can amount to 10 days’ work and will, therefore, stretch the deadline considerably. The workers have to completely stop all work and start from the beginning, which in turn takes up a major chunk of time. Reassembling labourers too becomes a difficult task as they leave following the ban. Reportedly, the EPCA had previously put a ban on construction and operation of hot mix plants and stone crushers from 6 pm to 6 am from 26 October to 30 October. Although the ban was extended till 31 October, the body put up a complete restriction on all activities on 5 November. The main issue to arise out of the ban is the exponential delay in projects. Reportedly, it is expected that in the long run, most developers will be able to make up for the delay but the projects that were almost on the finish line will see a considerable setback. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), charged with the responsibility of monitoring infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.5 billion or more, had earlier released a report for June 2019 according to which – out of the total 1608 projects, the number of projects that had crossed their deadlines amounted to 550.

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..