+
Higher commodity prices curb highway construction projects
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Higher commodity prices curb highway construction projects

A significant rise in commodity prices has taken a toll on the construction of highways in India.

During the first two months of the current fiscal year (FY), highway construction stood at just 21 km a day, compared to 24 km a day during the same period in the last FY and 29 km per day in FY22.

The pace of highway construction is higher than that of the Covid-19 pandemic year in the first two months of 2020. For FY22-23, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had set a target of 50 km per day for highway construction.

In the April-May period of the current FY, a total of 1,307 km of highway has been constructed by all the implementing agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Analysts recorded a decline in the pace of construction due to high prices of construction materials like cement, steel and bitumen. The prices of such commodities have started lowering due to the onset of the monsoon might curb the pace of construction in the next two months.

The price hike and the high volatility in commodity prices, after witnessing a huge increase in the second half (H2) of FY22, have made some of the contractors wait and watch. It has affected the pace of execution of the projects in the first two months.

Lowering the prices of some commodities like steel, etc., the pace of execution should improve.

Project awards dropped to just 496 km in the April-May period of this FY, as against 663 km during the same period in the last FY and 747 km a year before. MoRTH aims to award an 18,000 km highway construction project in the current FY.

Image Source

Also read: Ways to deal with the current construction materials prices hike

A significant rise in commodity prices has taken a toll on the construction of highways in India. During the first two months of the current fiscal year (FY), highway construction stood at just 21 km a day, compared to 24 km a day during the same period in the last FY and 29 km per day in FY22. The pace of highway construction is higher than that of the Covid-19 pandemic year in the first two months of 2020. For FY22-23, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had set a target of 50 km per day for highway construction. In the April-May period of the current FY, a total of 1,307 km of highway has been constructed by all the implementing agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Analysts recorded a decline in the pace of construction due to high prices of construction materials like cement, steel and bitumen. The prices of such commodities have started lowering due to the onset of the monsoon might curb the pace of construction in the next two months. The price hike and the high volatility in commodity prices, after witnessing a huge increase in the second half (H2) of FY22, have made some of the contractors wait and watch. It has affected the pace of execution of the projects in the first two months. Lowering the prices of some commodities like steel, etc., the pace of execution should improve. Project awards dropped to just 496 km in the April-May period of this FY, as against 663 km during the same period in the last FY and 747 km a year before. MoRTH aims to award an 18,000 km highway construction project in the current FY. Image Source Also read: Ways to deal with the current construction materials prices hike

Next Story
Real Estate

Heena Lalwani Buys Rs 1.13 Billion Juhu Apartment

Heena Lalwani, promoter of Aatman Innovations Private Limited, has purchased a luxury apartment worth Rs 1.13 billion in Mumbai’s upscale Juhu locality, according to property registration documents accessed by Zapkey.com.The 9,862 sq ft apartment, located on the 10th floor of Lodha Developers’ Avalon Tower, was acquired at Rs 115,000 per sq ft and comes with five car parking spaces. The deal, registered on 18 August 2025, also included the payment of Rs 68 million in stamp duty and a Rs 30,000 registration fee.Lodha Developers did not respond to queries regarding the transaction, while the..

Next Story
Real Estate

Godrej Buys KPHB Land for Rs 7 Billion in E-Auction

An acre of prime land in Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB), Hyderabad, was auctioned for Rs 7 billion, with the Telangana Housing Board generating Rs 5.47 billion from the sale of 7.8 acres through e-auction on 20 August 2025.The auction notification was issued last month, attracting bids from Godrej Properties, Aurobindo Realty, Prestige Estates, and Ashoka Builders, according to Board vice-chairman V.P. Gautham. With an offset price of Rs 4 billion per acre, the three-hour auction saw 46 bid increases, before Godrej Properties acquired the land.Revenue generated from the auction will be utilis..

Next Story
Real Estate

HMDA to Auction 93 Prime Plots in September

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is preparing to conduct a three-day auction of prime open plots across Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts this September.According to official reports, the e-auction will take place on 17, 18, and 19 September, offering 93 plots. Of these, 70 are located in the Bachupally HMDA layout, with the remainder spread across Turkayamjal, Kokapet, Poppalguda, Chandanagar, Bairagiguda, Gandi Maisamma, Suraram, Medipally, and Bachupally village.The highest upset price has been fixed at Rs 175,000 per square yard for a land parce..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?