Jaipur: Contractors and suppliers executing govt projects in Rajasthan have urged the state to extend Force Majeure relief after disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis hit raw material supplies, raised input costs and delayed work across sectors, including infrastructure and technology.The demand follows Centre’s decision to recognise disruptions arising from the West Asia situation as a potential Force Majeure event for govt contracts.FORTI president Suresh Agarwal said, “Contractors in Rajasthan want a similar mechanism for works awarded by PWD, RSRDC, PHED, JDA, UITs, Department of Information Technology and Communication (DoIT&C) and other state agencies.”He said the crisis had disrupted supplies and pushed up raw material prices, affecting project execution.The impact has been sharpest in road construction. Bitumen prices in Rajasthan have risen from around Rs 48,000 per tonne to nearly Rs 62,000, while cement prices in Kota have increased from about Rs 230 to nearly Rs 300 a bag. Contractors have also reported a 10-20% rise in the cost of several construction inputs.TOI had earlier reported that road works were hit by the shortage. Asphalt laying was halted at several locations on NH-27 and NH-148D, while contractors handling projects worth around Rs 600 crore in Kota division reported severe disruption. On one project requiring nearly 20,000 tonnes of asphalt, only about 7,000 tonnes had been supplied, even as asphalt prices crossed Rs 50,000 a tonne.PWD has acknowledged the disruption. In June, it allowed provisional monthly payments for bitumen price variation and provided for extensions of up to two months without liquidated damages for projects affected by disruption in bitumen supplies.Agarwal said contractors face similar risks in works awarded by JDA, UIT, DoIT&C and other departments.Industry representatives said the state govt should issue uniform provisions across departments.“The contractors are seeking a transparent, case-by-case Force Majeure framework covering material shortages, abnormal price escalation and consequential supply-chain disruption,” Agarwal said.They said the demand is not for a blanket exemption, but for protection from penalties where delays can be shown to have been caused by circumstances beyond the contractor’s control.
