India, April 24 -- LUCKNOW Geopolitical tensions in West Asia have reached the roads of Uttar Pradesh, slowing down approximately 70% of ongoing road construction and repair works. A severe disruption in the global supply chain, triggered by the US-Iran war, has caused the price of bitumen, a crucial binding agent in road construction, to surge by a staggering 65% since February.

Bitumen, which was priced at Rs.53,150 per metric tonne (including GST) in February, has skyrocketed to around Rs.89,859 per metric tonne.

Consequently, construction agencies are being forced to abandon the asphalt-laying phase immediately after completing base preparations due to the unsustainable escalation in costs.

Authorities acknowledge the issue. "We ar...