West Asia Conflict Impacts India's Bitumen Supply and Road Infrastructure Plans
India's road infrastructure expansion faces challenges due to reduced bitumen imports amid the West Asia conflict. Bitumen, essential for road construction, sees a 20% decline in imports and a 33% drop in domestic consumption compared to last year. Over 99% of India's bitumen imports come from West Asian countries like Iraq and UAE. The government aims to build 10,000 km of highways in 2026-27, but supply disruptions and rising prices affect projects under schemes like PMGSY Phase-III. Bitumen, derived from crude oil, is vital for flexible pavements, making import dependency a key concern.