The National Highways Authority of India has undertaken an elaborate exercise for Skill Development to meet its requirement of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled work force over the next few years. Currently, NHAI has 282 projects of about 20,000 km length under implementation across the country, out of which 10,000 km of length is targeted to be completed over the next one to two years. In addition to this there are around 220 projects with length of about 31,000 km which are targeted to be awarded and completed in the next 3 to 4 years across all states under NHDP and Bharat Mala Programmes.
The ongoing and targeted projects would generate an estimated employment of 13 crore man-days yearly from 2018-2021, comprising about 1.0 crore professional man-days, 9.0 crore skilled labour man-days and 3.0 crore semi-skilled & un-skilled man-days. This would translate to an average of more than 5 lakh of manpower per month comprising 0.4 lakh professionals, 3.2 lakh skilled and 1.4 lakh semi-skilled & un-skilled labour.
In a meeting held last week with officers of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Chairman NHAI asked for a road map to be chalked out for skilling of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers. He has asked the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to submit a detailed plan for Skill Development in tune with the requirements of NHAI projects within a month. The plan would then be finalised in discussion with the concerned stakeholders.