CHENNAI: If you are wondering why North Usman Road that has been scraped off its bitumen coat has still not been relaid, here’s the answer: Work on 50 interior roads dug up last week by Greater Chennai Corporation is stalled because there is shortage of bitumen and the model code of conduct ahead of the general elections is in effect.TOI visited Park Road in Anna Nagar , Venkataraman Road in KK Nagar and North Usman Road in T Nagar which were milled 10 days ago and are lying thus.The corporation said it had received complaints from residents from across 15 zones but work is being delayed as there is no raw material.“There is a huge shortage of bitumen in March and April because pending work is completed by the highways department, corporations and municipalities. But whenever corporations write to the suppliers, delivery is prioritised,” said a corporation engineer. The situation will improve in another week’s time, said an official.Deputy commissioner, corporation, M Govinda Rao said he has written to Indian Oil Corporation seeking bitumen on a ‘priority basis’. “We use at least 4,800 tonnes of bitumen every month to lay roads. Several contractors petitioned us seeking intervention. We have spoken Indian Oil to supply bitumen on priority basis,” he said.When TOI contacted Bharat Petroleum and India Oil Corporation, their representatives said the rate of bitumen had gone up since March 1 from 27,000 to 29,300. “There is a shortage because work has been taken up across the country ahead of the election and end of fiscal. But we are trying to meet the demand,” said one representative from Bharat Petroleum. The Indian Oil representative said most bitumen goes to public works department and highways department.But lack of bitumen is not the only hurdle. Those with stock are not allowed to lay roads, said contractor R Ramarao whose package of 20 roads is pending. “Whenever model code of conduct is in place, it is difficult to take up road relaying as opposition parties do not allow us to work. Even though work orders were issued before the code came into effect, they demand that we do not lay roads,” he said.With work stalled, motorists and residents have a tough time. D Dasarathan, a tea vendor on Park Road, said every day accidents took place due to the uneven road surface. “The road was filled with potholes for a year. So when they milled the surface, we were relieved. But 10 days have passed and the road has not been laid,” he said.Radha M, a motorist, said she could not travel without covering her face as dust engulfed the road in the afternoons and riding was dangerous.H Chandrabose, a contractor and civic activist, told TOI that even though bitumen prices were up due to the demand-supply gap, contractors still made profit. “When these projects were awarded, the rate of bitumen in the tender was about Rs 35,000 per tonne. It is Rs 29,300 now. So it makes no difference to the contractors who will anyway stay in profit despite the price revision,” he said.

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