National Highways Authority of India Projects Rely on Workers From Only 53 Districts, Govt Tells Rajya Sabha

India's highway construction programme continues to rely significantly on migrant labour, with workers from a limited number of districts forming the backbone of projects across the country. This trend was highlighted in the Rajya Sabha, where the government shared details of workforce patterns in national highway development.

Responding to a query, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that projects executed by the National Highways Authority of India draw a substantial portion of their labour force from just 53 districts spread across eight states. These include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

The data underscores a clear concentration of labour supply in a few regions. Bihar leads the list, contributing workers from 12 districts, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh with 11 districts. Rajasthan accounts for nine districts, while Madhya Pradesh and Odisha each contribute six. Jharkhand features with four districts, West Bengal with three, and Chhattisgarh with two.

This concentration suggests that large-scale infrastructure work in India continues to depend on migration from economically less-developed regions, where employment opportunities may be limited. Workers from these districts often travel long distances to participate in road construction projects, forming a crucial part of the execution chain.

The reliance on migrant labour also reflects broader structural trends in the construction sector, where demand for a mobile and flexible workforce remains high. While such migration supports livelihoods and sustains infrastructure growth, it also raises questions about regional disparities, labour welfare, and the need for more balanced economic development.

As India continues to expand its highway network, the data presented in Parliament highlights not just the scale of construction activity, but also the human resources driving it-workers whose movement across states remains central to the country's infrastructure ambitions.