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West Asia war slows bitumen supply, stalls road repairs in Ludhiana
Bitumen shortages linked to the West Asia conflict are delaying resurfacing on Ludhiana’s canal-water project, slowing blacktopping on roads excavated for pipelines. Officials say resurfacing will resume once supplies return, while the project’s first phase launched in 2025 aims to deliver treated water via a 165-km network.
Why It Matters
The delay in road resurfacing can worsen traffic and prolong disruption from a major infrastructure project, while the canal-water scheme remains a key向 in Ludhiana’s water security plans.
Timeline
3 Events
Phase I completion target reiterated
February 25, 2028
Phase I of the canal-based water supply project is scheduled to be completed by February 25, 2028, as previously planned.
Bitumen shortage disrupts resurfacing work amid West Asia war
May 1, 2026
Officials say a shortage of bitumen, linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, is hampering blacktopping on roads damaged during pipe laying for the canal project. The contractor Kalpataru Projects International Limited reports they cannot source enough bitumen to resume resurfacing until supplies are restored, leading to worsened traffic congestion on several Ludhiana routes.
First phase of canal-based water supply project officially launched
February 25, 2025
The canal-based water supply project officially launched its first phase, with the project estimated at ₹1,300 crore and joint funding from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Major components include a 580 MLD water treatment plant at Bilga village near Sahnewal, overhead reservoirs, and a 165-km-long pipeline network across Ludhiana.