April 28: The ongoing construction of infrastructural projects during the lockdown has been affected due to the shortage of construction materials.

The shortage in supply of construction materials has affected the construction work of roads, bridges, drinking water and airport related projects.

Road widening and blacktopping inside Kathmandu Valley has come to a standstill due to the shortage of raw materials. The scarcity also has halted the construction works of two international projects.

Due to the lockdown, crucial equipment and cement could not be brought from China's Kerung Dry Port and India's Kolkata Port for the construction of the two national pride projects.

Roshan Dahal, general secretary of the Federation of Construction Entrepreneurs of Nepal, informed new Business Age that many small and larger construction projects are facing the shortage of resources and construction materials, due to the closure of the crusher, cement and rod industries. The industries are also facing shortage of raw materials because of the lockdown, he informed.

"It is obvious for the projects to face the scarcity of construction materials while the construction industries and factories are closed,” Dahal added.