Middle East crisis: Road asphalting work hit in Bengaluru due to bitumen shortage

BENGALURU: Road work in Bengaluru has come to a standstill due to a shortage of bitumen, caused by the ongoing war in West Asia.

The city’s construction projects, worth thousands of crores, are facing a major hurdle as 80 per cent of bitumen used in road construction is imported from West Asia. With the war disrupting supplies, prices have skyrocketed from Rs 46,000 per tonne to Rs 68,000, a 45 per cent hike.

Contractors are struggling to cope with the price increase and are hesitant to resume work until prices stabilise and supplies resume. The shortage has brought road construction to a grinding halt, affecting several projects in Bengaluru.