VIJAYAWADA: Construction work in the capital Amaravati is facing a significant labour crunch, with the actual workforce falling well below the required manpower. Recent inspections by officials of the CRDA and ADCL revealed that worker strength across projects is far below projections submitted by contractors.
While contractor reports submitted to the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) claim labour deployment at around 22,000, field inspections found fewer than 17,000 workers currently on site. Even contractors’ own documents indicate total manpower across the capital region is below 20,000, officials said. Both figures fall significantly short of the actual requirement of 36,010 workers.
In February, as many as 21,897 workers were deployed across various projects; the number has now declined to about 17,000. The issue came to light after a World Bank team, during a recent visit to labour camps in Amaravati, flagged serious deficiencies in basic amenities.
Migrant workers from other states were found living in tin-sheet shelters during peak summer, without adequate drinking water or toilet facilities as mandated under labour norms. The team urged CRDA officials to address these gaps immediately. Sources said many workers left due to poor living conditions during the summer. The recent gas supply issues also triggered panic among the workers from other states, said sources.
CRDA and ADCL are jointly executing 89 projects through 11 major contracting firms, including NCC, L&T, KPC, KMV, SPCL, BSR, MVR, RVR, MEIL, BSCPL and PVR, with a combined contract value exceeding Rs 42,000 crore. Although 20 labour camps have been set up, inspections following the World Bank visit found that none met prescribed standards.
The issue was flagged during a review meeting attended by the CRDA commissioner, ADCL managing director, and the engineer-in-chief. Officials attributed the worker exodus to delayed wage payments, harsh summer conditions, lack of drinking water, and absence of shaded rest areas, leading to health concerns.
New workers are unwilling to join, while contractors are hesitant to hire local labour due to higher costs. While construction activity typically accelerates during summer, projects in Amaravati have slowed due to the labour shortage, with work currently running at nearly 50% of the required workforce.
GFXLabour Crunch Halves Project Pace
Total projects under execution: 89
Value of works awarded: Rs 42,196 crore
Workers required: 36,010
Workers deployed (till Feb): 21,897
Current workforce: 17,000
