Bhubaneswar: The shortage of LPG across Odisha has not only impacted the poor workers but also the construction activities, with labourers struggling to cook meals on time, leading to delayed arrival at project sites and affecting overall productivity.The construction workers, most of whom depend on 5-kg LPG cylinders, say availability has become erratic, forcing many to rely on black market, where prices have surged sharply. The per-kg price of LPG has reportedly climbed to Rs 200 to Rs 300, up from around Rs 150 per kg, putting additional financial pressure on the daily-wage earners.“At times, we spend hours searching for gas before cooking. By the time food is ready, it is already late to reach the site. If we cook late, we reach late. If there is no gas, we skip meals,” says Ramesh Nayak, a migrant construction worker living in a labour colony on the city outskirts.Sunita Devi, wife of a construction worker, says after paying higher prices for cooking gas, there is very little left to send home.Promoters say the situation is beginning to disrupt construction timelines. “There has been a noticeable delay in labour attendance over the past few days. Workers are not reaching sites on time due to lack of cooking fuel,” says Sangram Naik, a city-based developer, adding that even marginal delays affect project schedules.Industry representatives link the LPG shortage to supply disruptions amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has triggered volatility in global fuel markets.“When essential cooking fuel becomes scarce, the impact automatically spills over to sectors like construction that depend heavily on migrant workers,” says Umesh Pattnaik, general secretary, Odisha Developers’ Federation.Some contractors say they are being forced to adjust work hours or provide packed food temporarily, adding to operating costs.“Providing food is not a long-term solution. If the LPG situation doesn’t improve soon, delays will become inevitable,” says Jitendra Sahu, a contractor working on a housing project in the city.Developers fear that if the short-supply continues, delays at construction sites could compound existing concerns over rising material costs, further straining Odisha’s middle-class-driven housing market. “We just hope that the situation gets normalised soon,” Pattnaik says.
