Maha Metro, contractors taking care of their field workers, providing facilities to fight COVID-19 threat
| Date :31-Mar-2020 |
Doctor counselling construction workers about awareness measures needed to be taken in backdrop of outbreak of coronavirus
Staff Reporter :
Ensuring that workforce remains fighting fit, Maha Metro in tow with it’s contractors have taken upon themselves the task of caring for work force in current stage of lockdown due to outbreak of COVID-19. M/s Afcons Infrastructure Limited that is handling nearly 70 per cent of work in city was first off the block when it undertook awareness programme at workers colonies and also at work sites.
“We started from March 17 only and slowly started scaling down work and sites even as ordering medical examination of work force knowing well the dangers even if one contracts COVID-19,” said Amar Raut, Project Manager, while talking to The Hitavada. Nearly 1,200 people from Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are working with us and even discharging them temporarily and allowing them to return to their native places was fought with risk.
This would have entailed traveling long distances and in case of lifting of lockdown further getting them back well in time would have been difficult. Hence a decision was taken to keep them safe at sites and temporary colonies, one at Nagalwadi and other at Khairi, so that work can be resumed without wasting much time in again arranging logistics. Besides two quarantine facilities were also put in place, two rooms at Khairi and two at Nagalwadi, where casting yard is located, so that same could be used if needed.
One more step that was taken Raut said was to stop newcomers at site as a matter of abundant precaution. Daily talks are arranged by doctors to remove fear from minds of workers and make them aware about cleaning their hands, using of sanitizers and wearing the masks, they were provided to all the workers. Further we noticed that the labourers used to move out in groups for local marketing and hence company stepped in to ensure that their daily requirement is delivered at their doorsteps. Now the workers are quite happy and their families back hope too are not worried as ample care is being taken at site by the employers. The colonies of workers, their utensils and instruments used at work sites were thoroughly sanitised. The buses used for their transport are scientifically sanitised after every two days, Raut told The Hitavada further. Two full time ambulances are hired and kept on stand-by to attend the patients who report about any problem with their health. Smaller groups were formed of workers wherein they were encouraged to share every minute detail about their respective health as Raut said this enabled officers to known fast and respond accordingly.
M/s Afcons also reaching out to cops on duty Side by side serving their workforce, M/s Afcons have also taken upon themselves the task of reaching out to police personnel stationed on duty on the project alignment. Apart from providing them masks and sanitizers, the company also talked to senior officials and got permission to provide them lunch as and when needed. Similarly as part of their social outreach, the company is also happily serving stranded people by roadside.
Brijesh Dixit takes stock of situation Simultaneously, Maha Metro on its part issued initiated series of precautionary steps in view of coronavirus threat. Hygiene level at office premises was enhanced in each chamber, particularly at touch points continuously. A Centre with Project Director, General Consultant was set up to monitor day-to-day developments. Maha Metro also put-up display boards to that effect on TV screens and announcements at Metro Stations on awareness to combat COVID-19. The directives issued by MoHUA and Ministry of Health, Union Government have been displayed on social media. The ‘Dos and Don’ts’ are displayed at important locations. Maha Metro, undertook series of measures to prevent spread of this disease. The coaches of Metro were thoroughly disinfected and entire premises of stations were also sprayed with disinfectant till the lockdown came into effect. Dr Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maha Metro, himself took review of awareness measures and also visited the work site and the workers colonies to inspect the arrangements made by contractors. Thermal gun are being used to screen temperatures of those associated with metro construction work.