Standing Committee Chair Sanjay Kumar Jha reviews road infrastructure challenges amid West Asia crisis
New Delhi, June 15
Following a meeting with the Transport Secretary to assess the impact of the ongoing West Asia crisis on India's critical infrastructure, particularly the road construction sector, Janata Dal Working President and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Sanjay Kumar Jha, on Monday, highlighted the vulnerability of India's road projects to external supply shocks.
The session, which followed a previous briefing with the Shipping Secretary, focused on securing the supply chain for essential construction materials amid mounting geopolitical volatility.
Speaking to ANI, Jha noted that the country's reliance on imports from the conflict-affected region poses a significant challenge to national highway development.
"Today's discussion was regarding the West Asia crisis and specifically its impact on the road sector. This is because bitumen and other materials are imported from outside, and construction and repairs are being carried out on a very large scale by the government... In road infrastructure, especially regarding the large National Highways being built, it is natural that if the bitumen that was being imported--and 85% of it comes from one specific area--if that becomes totally blocked, you can understand how big the impact would be. From that area, the Strait of Hormuz... from that entire belt, if 85% was coming and it becomes a war zone, there is an impact," he said.
Despite the initial disruptions caused by the conflict, Jha expressed confidence in the government's preparedness, noting that early intervention helped prevent the situation from spiralling.
"Initially, there was a bit of a problem. A slowdown definitely occurred. But because the government comprehended early on that this could last a long time and planned accordingly, a lot of ground has now been recovered," he stated.
He added that while the situation has had an impact, it has remained under control due to early planning and identification of alternative supply sources, and currently, the entire situation depends on how the war pans out.
"This war that occurred has been going on for a long time. As per the information received here, the government understood the situation in the early stages and worked on all possible alternatives. The result of that was that things are not out of control. However, there is a problem. Based on the facts presented, I feel that everything now depends on how the war situation evolves," Jha further said.
Looking ahead, Jha emphasised that the current crisis has catalysed a shift toward domestic self-reliance in infrastructure development. He noted that the committee is actively reviewing alternative sources for bitumen and different road construction methodologies.
"I feel that sometimes a crisis also presents an advantage. The government is doing a lot of work on alternative sources or different methods for road construction," he added.
With a potential peace deal expected to be announced in Geneva on June 19, there is cautious optimism that long-term stability in the region will normalise supply chains. However, Jha stressed that until the situation fully de-escalates, the focus of the Parliamentary Committee remains on strengthening infrastructure resilience.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm an expat working on a highway project in Rajasthan. We've seen delays in material shipments since the crisis began. It's good that the committee is proactive. However, I'd like to see more concrete plans for domestic production rather than just identifying alternative sources.
Every crisis is an opportunity, as Jha says. Imagine if we become self-reliant in bitumen and other materials! That would be a game-changer for India's infrastructure. Let's hope the government walks the talk on Atmanirbhar Bharat in this sector. 🙏
Good that the committee is monitoring the situation, but I'm a bit skeptical. We've heard similar assurances before. The real test will be if we actually see roads being built on time without cost overruns. Let's see how the Geneva peace deal plays out first.
I moved to Bangalore recently and the road infrastructure is terrible despite all the tax money. If a war in West Asia can affect our roads, maybe we need to rethink our entire supply chain. Also, why aren't we using more recycled materials or alternative binders? Just a thought.
Shameless plug for the government, but actually this is genuine proactive thinking. The moment the crisis hit, they started planning alternatives instead of just panicking. That's the kind of governance we need more of. Hope the peace deal happens soon though - no one wants war anywhere. ✌️
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