Amid ongoing heatwave conditions, NHAI has issued guidelines to protect workers and ensure safe highway operations. These mandate precautionary measures across construction sites, maintenance works, and toll plazas, to be implemented immediately by contractors, concessionaires, and toll agencies.
For construction and maintenance, work hours are to be staggered to avoid peak heat (12 PM to 4 PM), with labour intensive tasks shifted to early mornings or evenings. Regular cooling breaks, worker acclimatization over 3–5 days, and training to identify heat-related illnesses have been made mandatory.
Sites must provide shaded rest areas, potable water, and first-aid support with ORS and glucose, while promoting breathable safety gear. Emergency response has also been strengthened, with ambulances equipped for heat-related cases and increased highway patrolling.
At toll plazas, outdoor exposure during peak hours will be minimized through shift rotation, with non-essential tasks moved to night hours. Cooling facilities, shaded areas, and access to drinking water with ORS are mandatory. Staff will be trained to handle heat-related situations, and compliance will be monitored through regular inspections.
These measures aim to reduce heat-related risks while ensuring uninterrupted highway operations and workforce safety.
