Construction Projects In The Time of COVID-19

For the time being, coronavirus is here to stay. So, the economies are cautiously reopening. Thousands of construction projects in India that were left hanging in the middle, they are starting again. However, as we ‘Play’ the ‘Pause’ aka lockdown, it’s worth remembering that we’re in the new normal. The construction companies and builders must actively evolve to shape their approach around COVID-19. They must adapt according to the challenges of the current time. This includes taking up better practices, ensuring everyone’s safety, having a newer set of SOPs, and focusing on cost-optimization. 

In specific, the on-site safety of the workers must be heeded to with essential urgency. The governments and local authorities have already outlined a set of protocols, like doing a thermal screening of every worker and maintaining social distancing. It is now on to the builders and on-site managers to ensure their implementation. Basic lapses can end up having serious repercussions on one’s life and the community at large.

Following, the construction companies must also have effective plans on how to control the cost of the project. Due to the lockdown, there’s already a significant delay that comes with a cost. This lockdown has also created supply chain disruption. Many building materials aren’t available in the market. Due to the scarcity, the ones that are available, their cost has increased. The builders must find a good TMT bar company in West Bengal, and other manufacturers, to source their construction materials. For instance, there are several steel bar manufacturers in Kolkata who have maintained consistent price even in these tumultuous times. They should be sourced for the TMT bars. The cost of skilled laborers, too, might increase in the coming days. The builders must be prepared for such events with a proper cost-optimization strategy that enables them to work with the sanctioned budget without over-extending. 

A host of challenges are lined ahead in the construction sector. The builders and other stakeholders must have a fair plan to navigate in the right direction. If not, those challenges are only going to get worse as the global economy tips into a recession.