Shimla, April 4 -- The rising prices of bitumen and shortages of key fuel inputs are set to significantly increase the cost of road construction and maintenance in Himachal Pradesh, Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh said on Saturday.

"Light diesel oil and bitumen shortage will hit road tarring and construction costs," Singh said, attributing the surge to global inflationary trends impacting petrochemical by-products such as LPG, petrol, diesel and lubricants.

Official estimates indicate a sharp rise in per-kilometre road construction costs across major schemes. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and NABARD-funded projects, the cost of 3-metre-wide roads has increased from Rs 13.75 lakh to Rs 17.75 lakh per ...