Bengaluru: At a time when Namma Metro’s opening timelines are already facing delays, Tamil Nadu’s continued ban on transporting stones and construction aggregates to other states has impacted work on the Blue Line, affecting the supply of key construction materials.A senior Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) official said contractors executing the 58-km Blue Line, connecting Silk Board with Kempegowda International Airport, are facing difficulties in procuring construction materials. While construction of the elevated corridor between Silk Board and KR Pura is at an advanced stage, work on KR Pura–KIA stretch is still on.“Contractors said 30 to 40 per cent of construction materials would be sourced from crushers in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district before the ban. Shortages of quarry dust, crushed stone and aggregates have affected several activities, including concreting, architectural finishing and other construction works,” the official said.The shortage has also affected depot construction, particularly the availability of railway ballast required for track laying. Along Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch, multiple activities, including construction of entry and exit structures and travelators, are under way.“The ban has disrupted construction activity over the past three months,” said an engineer with a construction company executing works on ORR. “Earlier, we were procuring aggregates from Hosur, which had around 14 quarry-crusher units supplying materials. Following the ban, supplies were disrupted for months, forcing vendors to shift procurement to just 4-5 crusher units in Bidadi. Aggregate prices, which were around Rs 800 per tonne earlier, have more than doubled now. This has added to the financial strain on contractors executing big projects,” the engineer said.Karnataka Truck Owners’ and Agents’ Association president GR Shanmugappa said the restrictions affected not only Metro construction but also several other infrastructure projects in Bengaluru. “More than 40,000 tonnes of stone were being transported to the city before the ban; 600 to 700 truck owners have been affected now.”InsetWhy the restrictions?Tamil Nadu had imposed restrictions citing rising domestic demand, inadequate supplies and escalating prices of construction materials. The move was also intended to curb illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of stone materials. The restrictions, which came into effect on July 27 for an initial three-month period, have continued.
