The ongoing West Asia conflict has affected road repair and resurfacing works in Bengaluru as several asphalting projects in the city have come to a halt due to a disruption in bitumen supply, sources in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) confirmed to The Hindu.
A chief engineer from one of the Bengaluru corporations explained that bitumen is used in asphalt mixes, and its scarcity has forced corporations to rethink taking up large-scale asphalting works. They are now expecting further disruptions in the coming days.
Major importers
Two companies — Mangalore Refineries and Madras Refineries — are the major importers of bitumen, from whom Bengaluru civic contractors procure the material. Gulf countries are the primary suppliers of bitumen, as it is a byproduct of crude oil refining,” the source explained.
According to a source in the North City Corporation, a tonne of the material usually costs ₹45,000, but the price has now risen to ₹60,000. “Contractors who have stock have continued work, but some have halted operations. If the disruption continues, more than 80% of asphalting works could stop within the next seven days,” the officer said.
