Road repairs in Bhopal face uncertainty as rising bitumen prices and supply disruptions linked to the Iran-Israel conflict make contractors reluctant to take up work at existing rates. Contractors say the cost of an asphalt tanker has risen from around Rs 11 lakh to Rs 23-24 lakh, threatening the municipal corporation’s post-monsoon repair and annual maintenance programme. Budget Gap Across 21 Zones: The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) estimates that more than Rs 5 crore is needed for year-round road maintenance across its 21 zones, while Rs 4.5 crore is currently available. Higher material costs and the funding gap have complicated repair planning. Supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have also been cited as a factor affecting bitumen availability.

 

Contractors Avoid Annual Rate Tenders: Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain had directed sub-engineers across assembly constituencies to prepare files for annual rate contracts (ARCs), with estimates of around Rs 40-50 lakh for each zone. However, contractors have shown little interest in the tenders, citing bitumen prices well above the approved rates and the difficulty of executing work under the existing terms. 400 Km Of Roads Planned: The annual contracts cover maintenance of existing roads, including filling potholes, repairing damaged surfaces and fixing road edges, rather than building new roads. BMC superintending engineer R R Jarolia said the civic body plans to resurface around 400 km of roads across 21 zones after the monsoon. Tenders have also been initiated for patchwork on new roads.