Switch to concrete
The West Asia crisis though eased a bit over the past week but the consequences of the tussle have left indelible marks on various sectors across the globe. Jammu and Kashmir like the rest of the country too had its share of woes due to the crisis that is yet to be resolved fully.
Last week the issue that surfaced in the UT was a SOS call raised by contractors involved in road construction across the region. The contractors have been raising an alarm over the rising cost of bitumen and other petroleum derivatives like coal tar that are widely used in road construction across Jammu and Kashmir.
Notably, the cost of bitumen, the petroleum derivative central to road construction, has risen sharply in recent years. For Jammu and Kashmir, where road connectivity defines economic life, this price surge is more than a budget line item. It is a direct tax on development. With the Union Territory’s limited working season and heavy dependence on road transport, the government must urgently reconsider its reliance on bituminous roads and pivot to concrete roads.
Ironically, bitumen prices are tied to crude oil and are therefore volatile. Global supply shocks, import costs, and transport to Kashmir’s landlocked terrain have pushed rates to unsustainable levels.
Every kilometre of blacktopped road now costs significantly more than it did five years ago. Maintenance adds to the burden. Kashmir’s freeze-thaw cycles, snow, and heavy rainfall crack and strip bitumen surfaces within 2-3 years.
Potholes reappear each spring, forcing repeated expenditure on the same stretches. The cycle of laying, repairing, and relaying drains public funds that could build new links instead.
In such a situation use of concrete for road construction makes sense for J&K. The concrete roads cost 15-25% more to lay initially, but they last more than a decade with minimal repair. Bituminous roads need resurfacing every 3-5 years in Kashmir’s climate. And if the roads stand over two decades, concrete laying will prove to be cheaper.
Concrete does not soften in summer heat or become brittle and crack in sub-zero winters. It resists water damage and snow clearances machines far better than bitumen, reducing the annual post-winter damage bill.
With rising truck traffic for horticulture, construction, and defence logistics, roads need higher load capacity. Rigid concrete pavements distribute weight better and prevent rutting.
Importantly, cement, aggregates, and sand are available within or near J&K. Reducing dependence on imported bitumen strengthens the local supply chain and creates jobs in cement and crusher units.
Besides, studies also show vehicles on smooth concrete roads consume 10-15% less fuel due to lower rolling resistance. In a fuel-expensive region, that is a direct saving for citizens. Another reason to switch to concrete roads is that they are more reflectivity and safe.
The concrete’s lighter colour improves night visibility and reduces the urban heat island effect, an added benefit for towns like Srinagar and Jammu.
Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to repave the same roads every two years while bitumen prices climb. Concrete is not just an engineering choice; it is a fiscal and strategic one.
A durable road network underpins tourism, horticulture, defence mobility, and daily life. By choosing concrete today, the government will save crores tomorrow and give the UT an all-weather connectivity it has long been denied.
