Heatwave Hits Construction Activity in Visakhapatnam, Delays Projects
The severe heatwave, which began in the third week of April, has seen temperatures touch 43° Celsius, making outdoor work increasingly difficult.
Visakhapatnam: Prolonged heatwave conditions in Visakhapatnam have begun affecting the construction sector, with developers reporting a sharp fall in labour attendance and delays in the execution of residential and commercial projects.
The severe heatwave, which began in the third week of April, has seen temperatures touch 43° Celsius, making outdoor work increasingly difficult.
Builders said labour attendance at construction sites has dropped by nearly 50 per cent as many workers are either reducing working hours or staying away from sites to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat. The shortage of workers has slowed construction activity across several projects, raising concerns over the ability to meet scheduled completion timelines.
Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (Credai) Visakhapatnam chapter president E. Ashok Kumar said labour availability had emerged as one of the sector’s biggest challenges at a time when numerous projects were under construction across the city.
“Construction activity is heavily dependent on labour. The prevailing heatwave conditions have made it difficult for many workers to attend sites regularly, affecting the progress of several projects,” Kumar said.
He noted that around 1,000 to 1,200 construction projects are currently underway between Bheemili and Anakapalli.
Kumar said the slowdown was increasing financial pressure on developers as project schedules slipped while fixed costs such as interest payments, site maintenance, equipment rentals and other operational expenses continued to accumulate.
He pointed out that the sector was likely to face further disruption with the onset of the monsoon, which is expected to become active over Visakhapatnam within a week.
“The industry is likely to lose nearly four months due to the combined impact of the heatwave and monsoon season,” he said.
The sector is also contending with rising construction material costs. Developers attribute the increase in the prices of steel, cement and other key inputs partly to uncertainty in global markets and ongoing geopolitical developments.
“Developers are facing the twin challenges of labour shortages and rising input costs. The combined impact is affecting project timelines and increasing financial pressure across the sector,” Kumar added.
