Roads covered in dust, shimmering under the relentless heat, with construction activity all around, are a familiar sight in Amaravati. For the workers engaged in welding and road-laying, however, it is simply another day of intense labour for a day’s pay.

On an April morning at 11:30 a.m., the temperature reached 39°C. The roads were cluttered with infrastructure materials—trucks, wires, and huge pipes—while the absence of even the slightest breeze turned the place into a furnace. Amid these intense working conditions, labourers pressed on: some clad in yellow jackets, boots, and helmets, while others used only a towel to cover their heads for protection.