Bharat Petroleum resumes 167 projects worth over Rs 14,000 cr

• The projects entail an investment of over Rs 14,000 crore

• These projects would involve an expenditure of approximately Rs 1,900 crore during the current financial year

New Delhi: Bharat Petroleum has resumed 167 projects with all necessary COVID-19 protocols as the nationwide lockdown was partially relaxed on April 20. The projects entail an investment of over Rs 14,000 crore. "This effort will help in its own way in reviving the economy, apart from adding to the livelihood of more than 3,000 workers and their families during these difficult times. More than 6,000 workers would be progressively deployed on these projects," BPCL said in a statement.

Bharat Petroleum projects would generate Rs 1,900 cr in FY21

Out of these 167 projects, 84 projects are outside municipal limits, while 83 projects are within municipal limits, but have engaged residential workforce. These projects would involve an expenditure of approximately Rs 1,900 crore during the current financial year. These projects are spread over the entire value chain of the company — refineries, E&P, marketing infrastructure, pipelines, city gas distribution network and new fuel stations.

BPCL is likely to restart another 88 stalled projects with an estimated investment of Rs 23,210 crore in the next few days, mainly in Kochi Refinery at Kerala and their City Gas Distribution network in various Geographical Areas, which will provide employment to over 3,600 additional people and will incur an annual expenditure of Rs 2,000 crore.

COVID-19 safety guidelines being followed

To ensure the safety of the workforce, a detailed SOP has been enforced across these project sites, with major emphasis on social distancing, using mask, frequently sanitizing the project site, mandatory thermal screening at entry and exits, usage of hand sanitiser and washing hands with soap before entering the project site, etc. Each site will have restricted entry and where workers are to work in shifts. A mandatory one-hour gap is being maintained between two shifts, so that staffs from the two shifts do not mingle and requisite sanitizing of the workplace is ensured.

Special arrangements have been made to ferry the workers from their camps to project site wherever applicable, and the transportation ferrying them are also mandated to be operating at 30-40 percent of passenger capacity. They are also being sanitized before each trip, BPCL said.