NHAI to carry out construction work for oxygen plants in districts

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will carry out the civil or construction work for setting up of around 500 medical oxygen plants across districts.

The government has given this task to NHAI to fast track the setting up of these plants considering its pan-India presence. Sources said the highways authority held a detailed meeting of all its regional officers on Tuesday and they have been asked to instruct all field officers to identify the locations and take up work as soon as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) asks them to start construction.

A source said the sites can be made ready in less than a fortnight ,if there is no requirement of reinforced concrete (RCC) structure. In case of RCC structure it may take at least a month. “It’s an opportunity for us to carry out such a humanitarian task. All officials have been asked to take this on mission mode as the top priority as we can’t lose any time,” said an NHAI official.

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted, “Our engineers will work with the doctors to ensure oxygen supply to the needy patients. Like record speed in roads, we will construct infrastructure in record speed to save life of every citizen.”

TOI has learnt that some of the major highway construction companies have also asked their field staff across country to take up this task as priority and must complete them in the fastest possible time.