Chandigarh: A shortage of bitumen, triggered by disruptions in crude supply amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, has brought road recarpeting works worth over Rs 175 crore across Chandigarh to a near standstill, with only about 25% of the projects completed so far.
Officials in both the municipal corporation (MC) and the Chandigarh administration said contractors are struggling to procure bitumen, primarily sourced from IOCL's Panipat refinery. The supply crunch has severely slowed execution, forcing most planned works to halt.
"Bitumen availability has dropped sharply due to crude shortage. Contractors have even approached HPCL Bathinda, but there has been no concrete response," an official said, adding that around eight contractors handling multiple MC works have been impacted.
The administration's engineering department is facing a similar situation. "Our contractors are also dependent on IOCL supplies, which are currently unavailable. This has drastically slowed works, and there is no clarity on when the situation will improve," a senior official said.
The disruption comes during May-June, considered the most favourable window for recarpeting due to high temperatures required for the process. Most projects had been planned, tendered and allotted in advance, but the supply crisis has derailed timelines.
"Once the monsoon sets in, recarpeting cannot be carried out. A large portion of the work may now get pushed back," an MC official said.
Situation Grim
Total recarpeting works amount to over Rs 175 crore. The MC share is between Rs 80 and Rs 100 crore, including Rs 30 to Rs 40 crore in spillover works. The Chandigarh administration has allocated Rs 76 crore. Coverage planned includes over 450 km of roads by the MC and over 200 km by the UT administration. Only 25% of the work has been completed so far.
