NAREDCO aims for the establishment of isolation facilities for construction workers.

Developers from all real estate projects in the twin cities and the area of Yamuna Expressway are asked to provide isolation facilities on their construction sites for Covid affected workers, the Naredco builders’ body said on May 6.

Despite the fact that over 25% of migrant workers have returned to their hometowns, over a lakh people continue to work at the 250 under-construction project sites in these areas.

Construction site isolation wards would have basic medical amenities such as beds, wheelchairs, oximeters, and sanitisers. The authorities in Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway have ordered Naredco to assist in the establishment of these wards so that these facilities can provide contingency care to Covid-affected workers before severe cases are sent to hospitals.

“The initiative has been taken under the leadership of the authorities of Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway,” RK Arora, President of Naredco-UP, told TOI. We are promoting this initiative and have so far instructed builders to construct worker isolation facilities at the 250 ongoing construction sites in these three areas. The aim is to provide basic assistance to affected workers before sending them to the closest emergency facilities.”

However, no significant outbreaks of Covid have been identified from any specific construction site so far, as per builders. Builders, on the other hand, have stated that the current pandemic would have an effect on construction timelines.

“There have been no reports of a big Covid 19 breakout at any location so far. However, a shortage in available labour and a slowdown in the supply chain during the lockdown have impacted the speed of operation at project sites and execution timelines. Credai-NCR President Pankaj Bajaj said that the projects are likely to be postponed.

About two lakh units are under development in Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway. UP-Rera has already acknowledged the problem but has yet to provide any concrete relief to builders in terms of deadline extensions.