Can Extra Man-Hours Speed Up Project Deliveries?

While each one of us is expecting the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, to act as the single panacea for all ills plaguing the India's property market, developers are left wondering how to meet all the deadlines before the law is implemented in toto. In a move that will certainly support developers speed up the work of on-going projects, authorities in Mumbai decided to allow them four additional man-hours for construction activities about two months ago. Now, building constructions in Mumbai can take place between 6 am and 10 pm, from earlier 7 am to 7 pm time limit. A media report cited developers saying that they expected a 10 per cent reduction in time required to complete projects.

In a move that will certainly support developers speed up the work of on-going projects, authorities in Mumbai decided to allow them four additional man-hours for construction activities about two months ago. Now, building constructions in Mumbai can take place between 6 am and 10 pm, from earlier 7 am to 7 pm time limit. A media report cited developers saying that they expected a 10 per cent reduction in time required to complete projects.

Naysayers argue that extra hours won't go very far in helping developers as financial crunch and red-tape bureaucracy lie at the bottom of project-delivery failures, however, this small step has many virtues.

It has to be noted that setting up deadlines is all right but construction activities are highly labour-intensive and require a lot of physical human effort apart from everything else. While new age-technologies may help developers build it at a much faster rate, there are several other factors that also come into picture and decide how much time it will take to complete a project.

For instance, many developers who were building their projects near the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida had to face delays without no fault on their part. Even a small complaint by a, say, non-governmental organisation or a public forum, will be enough to get developers toe the right line. Even in this recent example, developers in Mumbai will have to ensure they do not disturb residents living in neighbouring areas while they carry out the construction work. They will also not be able to use the heavy machinery at odd hours.

Even in this recent example, developers in Mumbai will have to ensure they do not disturb residents living in neighbouring areas while they carry out the construction work. They will also not be able to use the heavy machinery at odd hours.

In a situation such as this, even small steps will go a long way in aiding troubled developers. Administrative bodies across the country can take a cue from Mumbai.