With pollution curbs in Delhi, labourers stare at months without wages

Delhi's construction workers face uncertain months without pay as pollution curbs take effect. With the ban on outdoor work beginning November 1, laborers like Rohit from Bikaner are preparing for a prolonged absence from construction work, which could last two or three months. The Amaryllis luxury housing project in Karol Bagh, among others, has seen a slowdown in activity as workers return home for the festive season.

Builders are scrambling to rearrange priorities, completing tasks that can be done before the ban and deferring others. Under the new Winter Action Plan, a complete shutdown of construction and demolition activity is set from December 10 to January 20, adding to the uncertainty faced by the workers. With labor retention being a major concern, many migrant workers are likely to leave their jobs upon the lifting of restrictions, delaying project completion even further.