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Visakhapatnam's construction boom has been slowed by a serious shortage of skilled labour, which is affecting a wide range of projects from housing to smart-city upgrades and civic infrastructure. Builders struggle to find trained masons, electricians and finishing workers, leading to delayed timelines and rising costs. The shortage hits small and medium firms hardest while public works and municipal projects also face delays. In response, CREDAI Visakhapatnam is setting up a skill-development centre, and experts call for structured apprenticeships and on-site training to bridge the labour gap.
Construction activity in Visakhapatnam is increasing with smart-city upgrades, airport expansion and housing developments underway, but the city's growth momentum is being hampered by a severe shortage of skilled workers. Contractors across public and private projects are finding it difficult to secure enough experienced masons, electricians and finishing workers even though materials and machinery are available promptly. Advertisement
Small and medium firms are feeling the pinch the most, as project timelines stretch and wage bills rise. Some contractors say that while work can begin, progress often stalls when they can't find enough trained labourers to complete specialised tasks.
According to the President of CREDAI Visakhapatnam, the gap between demand and supply of skilled workers is widening as more projects come up. He noted that although many builders are ready to take on new work, the available workforce simply does not meet requirements. To address this, CREDAI is setting up a skill-development centre aimed at improving workmanship and boosting confidence among workers handling specialised jobs.
Builders also point out that many experienced workers are moving away attracted by higher-paying public works projects in neighbouring districts which makes retaining labour more difficult for city-based developers. Some local training institutes have begun offering short-term courses, but industry experts argue such programmes are insufficient. They recommend structured apprenticeships and on-site mentoring to build practical skills and reliability.
This labour shortage is not just affecting private realty projects; municipal works such as roads and public hostels are already being delayed, which impacts residents waiting for civic infrastructure. Real-estate developers warn that if housing completion times remain prolonged, buyer confidence could take a hit.
Industry stakeholders believe the next 12 to 18 months will be critical. If the planned skill-development measures take off effectively, Visakhapatnam could still maintain its infrastructure push. If not, delays and escalating costs may slow down both real-estate and public-infrastructure development.
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