Megha Engineering: Challenges & Opportunities for Construction Contractors

Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures, highlights the practical challenges faced by construction contractors, including political interference and unskilled labor, and emphasizes the need for streamlined project management and improved contractor support.
For the construction of any project, whether large or small, there are typically 3-4 main stakeholders involved: the project owners, various central and state PSUs or government bodies, consultants, construction contractors, and vendors, both large and small. The general public, particularly local residents in the area where the project is being constructed, also plays a role.
As a construction contractor, responsibility for the project lies heavily with us, and when we begin work in a new area, we encounter pressure from local administration and politicians. Elected officials, such as sarpanches, provide us with lists of people to hire, often under duress. These lists include individuals who may be unskilled or poorly skilled. This situation negatively impacts the project’s time schedule, quality, safety, and overall cost. Consequently, projects, especially in mountainous regions, face not just months but often years of delays, largely due to local demands and political influence.

With 2.5 lakh crore worth of tunnelling projects in the pipeline, it is noteworthy that India’s tunnelling achievements are currently only about one-third of China’s. Over the past 33 years, China has constructed 57,000 km of tunnels. In contrast, over the last 75 years, India’s total tunnelling length is less than 2,000 km. Given this disparity, the 2.5 lakh crore allocated for tunnelling projects in India is relatively modest. To address the migration of people from mountainous regions and attract tourism, extensive highway, rail, and other tunnelling infrastructure is crucial.
To mitigate delays and cost overruns, the Government of India and all stakeholders should assist construction contractors in minimizing the employment of unskilled workers under pressure. This is essential for controlling costs and meeting project timelines. My primary recommendation is to address this issue with both clients and politicians to ensure a more effective and efficient approach to construction projects.