The recent surge in bitumen and light diesel oil (LDO) prices, driven by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, poses a serious threat to road construction projects in Himachal Pradesh, India. Bitumen prices have skyrocketed from ₹43 to ₹86.60 per kg, while LDO prices have increased by over 50%. This escalation has rendered ongoing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) financially unviable for contractors. The Public Works Department (PWD) minister, Vikramaditya Singh, acknowledged the impact of global inflation on local construction costs and confirmed that the state has approached the central government for financial assistance to mitigate the situation. The cost of constructing 3-metre-wide roads has risen from ₹13.75 lakh to ₹17.75 lakh per km, while costs for 6-metre-wide roads have jumped from ₹27.50 lakh to ₹35.50 lakh per km. The PWD minister stated that the state may need to delay some infrastructure targets depending on the international situation but emphasized the importance of maintaining quality standards. Meanwhile, there has been a notable increase in coal demand as some eateries revert to traditional cooking methods amid the LPG crisis, although officials have assured that the supply of petroleum products and LPG remains stable in the state.