The Ghaziabad Development Authority may soon appoint ‘Covid marshals’ at construction sites in the city before work starts in those places. The job of these marshals will be to ensure that norms specified by the health department and the standard operating procedure (SOP) directed by the Authority were being followed.
“It is time to restart work on pending projects as per the demands of the prevailing situation. For that, we are toying with the idea of appointing Covid marshals who will ensure that the SOP that we have prepared is followed,” said a GDA official. The GDA has sought feedback from all stakeholders and contractors.
As per the SOP, every one at the construction sites will be issued photo identity cards and will have to follow social distancing. “Spitting at construction sites has been prohibited; thermal screening will be conducted and there will be a doctor present at the sites,” said the official. “The sites will be completely sanitised and random tests of at least five workers will be conducted by doctors on a daily basis,” added the official.
Workers will also not be allowed to leave the construction sites and they will be ferried at the sites in sanitised vehicles. “Machinery and equipment, which will be used by multiple workers, will be sanitised before use,” said the official. Apart from GDA’s own projects, similar SOPs will also have to be followed by private builders who wish to restart work.