New Delhi Faces Bitumen Shortage Amid Ongoing Conflict in West Asia
The Indian government is confronting a significant shortage of bitumen, crucial for building and maintaining roads, due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The price of VG-40, the most widely used grade of bitumen, has nearly doubled since the conflict began, leading to a drastic decline in availability. Reports indicate that India needs about six lakh tonnes of bitumen for highway projects by July 15, but supply is currently inadequate.
Experts in the industry suggest that while the country still has a steady supply of crude oil thanks to imports from Russia, this has not translated into improved availability of bitumen. The sweet crude oil imported from Russia does not produce the specific grade of bitumen needed for the Indian climate.
This shortage was a major topic at the recent meeting of the informal Group of Ministers, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Officials pointed out that the lack of the right quality of bitumen has slowed highway construction dramatically, cutting the pace down to a quarter of what it used to be in April.
As the situation unfolds, the impact on road construction and maintenance is likely to worsen without timely interventions.
