NHAI Directs Staggered Hours To Protect Highway Workers From Heatwave

04 May 2026 CW Team

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed contractors and concessionaires to provide staggered working hours for workers involved in national highway construction to avoid peak heat between 12 pm and four pm in a bid to mitigate the heatwave effect. It has issued guidelines outlining mandatory safety protocols for construction sites, maintenance work and toll plazas under its jurisdiction. The safety measures will be implemented immediately by contractors, concessionaires and toll collection agencies to protect staff and workers.

Special emphasis has been placed on acclimatisation of workers, ensuring that new or returning personnel are gradually exposed to strenuous tasks over a period of three to five days and trained to identify and respond to heat related illnesses including heatstroke. Emergency preparedness has been strengthened and patrol ambulances will be equipped with ice packs, cold water and IV fluids to support rapid medical response. Route Patrolling Units (RPUs) have been instructed to increase monitoring frequency to assist highway users facing heat related issues and vehicular breakdowns due to overheating.

For toll operations, the authority has advised minimising outdoor exposure of personnel during peak heat hours from eleven am to three pm through optimised shift management and rotational rosters. Night hours will be utilised for administrative and maintenance activities that do not require presence in lane operations. The measures aim to balance the need for continued highway services with protection of worker health.

The directive builds on established best practices and seeks to institutionalise a consistent approach across the national highway network, with accountability placed on contractors and concessionaires for compliance. The NHAI will monitor implementation through routine reviews and coordination with RPUs to ensure timely assistance and effective response during extreme heat episodes.

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

Systematix Posts FY26 Revenue Growth And Declares 10 Per Cent Dividend

Systematix Corporate Services Limited has reported audited results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, signalling steady revenue growth and continued strategic investment to support expansion. The firm reported ongoing business momentum across its core financial services and noted platform building in private wealth and asset management. The board recommended a 10 per cent dividend for FY26, continuing a consistent shareholder payout record. Management indicated that investments in technology and talent aim to build long-term scale. Total income from operations for FY26 rose five pe..

Maharashtra Guarantees Rs 60 bn Loan For Purandar Airport Land

The Maharashtra government has cleared a state guarantee for a Rs 60 bn loan that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will raise to fund land acquisition for the proposed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport at Purandar in Pune district. The guarantee will remain in force for one year, within which the borrowing must be tied up and the proceeds deployed for buying land and disbursing compensation to affected farmers. A formal government resolution to this effect was issued on Friday. About 3,000 acres are slated to be acquired for the greenfield airport, with t..

Cement Production Up Eight Point Six Per Cent To 491.4 mn t In FY26

Icra reported that cement production volumes rose by eight point six per cent in the financial year 2026 to 491.4 million (mn) metric tonne (t). March output was 48.4 mn t, up four per cent year on year on a high base. The agency projected that volumes are expected to grow by seven to eight per cent in the current financial year, supported by sustained demand from the housing and infrastructure sectors. Average cement prices were reported to have remained flat in March at Rs 340 per bag on a month on month basis, while prices for FY26 increased by two per cent to Rs 345 per bag year on year. A..