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93% Surge in Bitumen Imports: A Visible Indicator of Road Development in the Past Year

News

According to Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, imports of bitumen went up to about 4.5 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 from nearly 2.3 lakh tonnes in the previous fiscal. The domestic production of bitumen has remained flat at 47 lakh tonnes per annum for the last two years as it is considered a low value product while most refineries focus on high value products. 

Source: ET

SNP Insights

Even though concrete and other materials are currently used in the construction of roads, highway construction still relies largely on bitumen. A 93% surge in the import of bitumen as well as the recent datas showing the progress of road projects points out that the reforms taken in the past year to revive snail paced road construction in the country is going in the right direction.

Source: SNP Infra Research