Ahmedabad is facing significant disruptions in road construction and maintenance projects due to a shortage of asphalt, driven by the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The crisis has led to a drastic drop in asphalt availability, impacting municipal development works throughout the city.
Before tensions escalated, Ahmedabad relied on approximately 5,000 to 5,500 metric tonnes of asphalt every day. Now, that figure has plummeted to just 500 to 700 metric tonnes daily. This shocking decline indicates nearly a 90 percent reduction in road-related activities.
Projects Stalled
Resurfacing efforts, patchwork repairs, new asphalt roads, and widening projects are all severely delayed. Typically completed during winter months, many of these initiatives remain unfinished as summer heat takes hold.
Supply Chain Issues
The situation is worsening due to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital oil transit route globally. Reports show long lines of tankers waiting outside Indian Oil Corporation depots as contractors rush to secure limited supplies. Meanwhile, hot mix plants used for resurfacing have been forced to shut down because they can’t get enough raw material.
The incomplete roads in newly developed areas add to the frustration for residents and commuters alike. Additionally, rising costs for Light Diesel Oil (LDO), essential for operating hot mix plants, are compounding an already critical situation.