Builders seek government intervention as steel prices surge

12 Oct 2021 CW Team

According to the sources, in India, steel prices have increased to Rs 20,000 per tonne since last year and increased Rs 6,000 per tonne more last week.

The South India Cement Manufacturers Association said that the cement prices across the country are to be increased considerably. It suggested multiple reasons for the price hike, including unavailability of pet coke, unchecked price hike of imported coal may have caused the price hike.

The estimated increase in the production cost will be at least Rs 60 per bag of cement.

Krishna Srivastava, General Secretary of the South India Cement Manufacturers Association, said that the last few months had witnessed an unprecedented increase in the imported cost of coal and pet coke. The availability of pet coke has also decreased.

He added that the shortage of vessels, unavailability of pet coke, and high prices of coal would further increase the cement price.

He said that the increase in fuel prices would make the situation worse, making it more difficult to forecast the production volumes and capacities of the utilities.

Besides, builders in Kochi are disturbed due to the increasing input prices and their impact on real estate in Kerala.

Ravi Jacob, President of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (Credai)-Kochi, told the media that the rising prices of steel and cement would increase the construction cost to Rs 1,000 per sq ft, adversely affecting the consumers' needs.

He said that the price hike would leave the construction industry in a deep crisis. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the real estate sector was slowly recovering. The increasing price will put a burden on the consumers. The government's scheme of affordable housing will negatively affect the consumers with the price hike of construction materials.

Image Source

Also read: Indian Steel Association writes to PMO defending steel price hike

Builders in Kochi have sought the centre’s interference due to the significant increase in the prices of steel and cement in India. According to them, the unchecked rising in prices will put a huge burden on the buyers. According to the sources, in India, steel prices have increased to Rs 20,000 per tonne since last year and increased Rs 6,000 per tonne more last week. The South India Cement Manufacturers Association said that the cement prices across the country are to be increased considerably. It suggested multiple reasons for the price hike, including unavailability of pet coke, unchecked price hike of imported coal may have caused the price hike. The estimated increase in the production cost will be at least Rs 60 per bag of cement. Krishna Srivastava, General Secretary of the South India Cement Manufacturers Association, said that the last few months had witnessed an unprecedented increase in the imported cost of coal and pet coke. The availability of pet coke has also decreased. He added that the shortage of vessels, unavailability of pet coke, and high prices of coal would further increase the cement price. He said that the increase in fuel prices would make the situation worse, making it more difficult to forecast the production volumes and capacities of the utilities. Besides, builders in Kochi are disturbed due to the increasing input prices and their impact on real estate in Kerala. Ravi Jacob, President of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (Credai)-Kochi, told the media that the rising prices of steel and cement would increase the construction cost to Rs 1,000 per sq ft, adversely affecting the consumers' needs. He said that the price hike would leave the construction industry in a deep crisis. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the real estate sector was slowly recovering. The increasing price will put a burden on the consumers. The government's scheme of affordable housing will negatively affect the consumers with the price hike of construction materials. Image Source Also read: Indian Steel Association writes to PMO defending steel price hike

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Infrastructure Transport

28 Oct 2025

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Real Estate

28 Oct 2025

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..