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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued directives to contractors and concessionaires to implement staggered working hours for highway construction workers to avoid peak heat periods between midday and late afternoon. The guidelines, released in the past week, introduce mandatory safety protocols across construction sites, maintenance operations, and toll plazas. Measures include worker acclimatisation, emergency preparedness, and training to handle heat-related illnesses. The move follows rising temperatures across the country and aims to safeguard labourers and highway personnel while maintaining operational continuity across national highway projects.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed contractors and concessionaires engaged in national highway projects to implement staggered working hours for workers, restricting strenuous activities during peak heat periods between 12 pm and 4 pm, in response to prevailing heatwave conditions across the country. Advertisement
The directive, issued in the past week, forms part of a broader set of mandatory safety guidelines applicable to construction sites, maintenance operations, and toll plazas under NHAI’s jurisdiction. The authority stated that these measures are to be immediately implemented by all contractors, concessionaires, and toll collection agencies to ensure the well-being of workers and staff.
A key component of the guidelines is the structured acclimatisation of workers, particularly those newly deployed or returning after a break. NHAI has instructed that such personnel should be gradually introduced to physically demanding tasks over a period of three to five days to reduce the risk of heat stress and related health conditions.
The authority has also mandated training programmes to help workers identify early signs of heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke, and respond appropriately. This is aimed at improving on-site awareness and ensuring timely intervention in case of medical emergencies.
To strengthen emergency preparedness, NHAI has directed that patrol ambulances deployed along highways be equipped with essential supplies such as ice packs, cold water, and intravenous fluids. Route Patrolling Units (RPUs) have been instructed to increase the frequency of monitoring to assist both workers and highway users facing heat-related health issues or vehicle breakdowns caused by overheating.
At toll plazas, specific operational adjustments have been advised to minimise outdoor exposure of personnel. NHAI has recommended optimised shift management and rotational rosters to reduce the time staff spend in open conditions during peak heat hours, particularly between 11 am and 3 pm.
Additionally, the authority has suggested that non-essential administrative and maintenance activities be shifted to night hours wherever feasible, allowing critical daytime operations to be conducted with reduced workforce exposure to extreme temperatures.
The measures come as temperatures in several regions have risen sharply, affecting working conditions across infrastructure projects. The guidelines reflect an increased focus on occupational safety within the infrastructure sector, particularly for labour-intensive activities carried out in open environments during extreme weather conditions.
Source - PTI
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