Ludhiana, June 28 -- A sharp rise in bitumen prices following supply disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia has increased the municipal corporation's road construction and repair costs by nearly 50%, adding to the financial burden on the cash-strapped civic body.

Municipal officials said the price of bitumen, a key road construction material, has risen from around Rs.50 per kg to nearly Rs.75 per kg, substantially escalating the cost of all ongoing and upcoming road projects.

Superintendent engineer (buildings and roads) Sham Lal Gupta said every project involving bitumen would be affected by the price escalation. "The increase in bitumen prices will certainly push up project costs across the city," he said.

Under existing con...