08/03/2026
– Still Miles to Go
Over the years, I have met a few women who were genuinely passionate about pursuing a career in civil engineering. At the same time, I have also seen many women civil engineers who either never began their professional journey or stepped away from it midway, often in the name of family responsibilities.
But what concerns me more is something else.
Among women civil engineers, we rarely see them at the frontline of construction — standing at site, supervising concreting, grading and levels, managing crews, or resolving on-site engineering and non-engineering challenges.
Let me clarify - this is not to undermine the importance of design roles. Design is fundamental to engineering. However, the question worth asking is:
Why are women engineers so rarely visible at construction sites?
From what I have observed, two factors play a major role.
First – the mindset of male leadership.
Many male bosses quietly believe that deploying women engineers at site is a “management headache.” Instead of improving site conditions or creating supportive systems, the easier option becomes keeping them away from field operations.
Women engineers sitting in site offices are seldom sent to the actual work front. The justification often given is that the organisation has a “greater responsibility” toward them. Ironically, that responsibility translates into limiting their exposure.
Sometimes special arrangements are even made—like dropping them home earlier than other employees.
Because they are girls. Bechari.
Second – the acceptance of this behaviour as a privilege.
What appears to be a gesture of care is often accepted as a privilege. But in reality, it quietly pushes women engineers away from the experience that truly builds construction professionals — site exposure.
Without field experience, career growth in construction naturally becomes restricted.
And the cycle continues.
If the construction industry genuinely wants more women leaders, the answer is not protection — it is opportunity, infrastructure, and equal professional expectations.
Until then, when it comes to women at construction sites, we still have miles to go.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India
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