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.

Products

19 Jun 2026

REHAU Opens Interior Solutions Experience Centre in Gurgaon

REHAU Kitchen has partnered with Third Space Collective to launch a new experience centre in Gurgaon, strengthening its presence in India's growing premium interiors market.Spread across 3,400 sq. ft., the facility showcases a range of interior applications including kitchens, wardrobes, TV units, bar units and storage solutions, offering homeowners, architects and interior designers an opportunity to explore engineered interior products and material innovations under one roof.The collaboration is aimed at making advanced interior solutions more accessible while addressing growing consumer dem..

Sky City Mall Marks Father's Day with Digital Film

Sky City Mall, Oberoi Realty's newest retail destination, has launched a Father's Day digital film that celebrates the bond between fathers and their children while highlighting the evolving role of malls as experience-led destinations.The campaign reflects the growing importance of retail destinations as spaces where shopping, dining, entertainment and social interactions come together to create memorable experiences for families. Through the film, Sky City Mall positions itself as a venue for meaningful moments and celebrations beyond traditional retail activity.The narrative follows a fathe..

YKK India to Set Up Manufacturing Facility at Origins Chennai

Mahindra Industrial Park Chennai Limited (MIPCL), a joint venture between Mahindra World City Developers and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, has announced that YKK India will establish a new manufacturing facility at Origins by Mahindra, Chennai.According to YKK India, the proposed facility will be its third manufacturing plant in the country and will span approximately 149,936 sq. m. The company plans to invest US$150 million in the project, which is expected to be completed by February 2028.YKK India, a manufacturer of fastening products serving the apparel, textile and industrial sectors, wi..