Gujarat Contractors Association organised a felicitation function today for Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for addressing and resolving issues related to price rise of raw materials. Over 300 contractors from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat and other cities assembled in Ahmedabad to express their gratitude to the Chie Minister and BJP party chief C.R. Patil and Gujarat Road and Building, Transport minister Purnesh Modi.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of raw material had gone up by 30 to 40 per cent. This included prices of steel, cement, bitumen, gravel, sand, bricks, transportation and labour charges.
While struggling with escalation in prices of raw material during the pandemic, the Gujarat Contractors Association (GCA) threatened to stall work of various government-funded projects that include 1.5 lakh housing units being built under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY) ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat summit.
The Chief Minister who is a civil engineer shared anecdotes of his initial days when he had taken up a project with ONGC. He recalled, “As a civil engineer, I understand the concerns of contractors. They are one of the biggest employers of the State. Not just the contractors, if anyone in Gujarat needs genuine help then we, the Government of Gujarat, is always by their side.’’
Mr Arvind Patel, Chairman, Gujarat Contractors Association (GCA) said, “Bhupendra bhai took proactive measures to resolve our issues. Six out of our seven are already addressed. The inflation in the prices of raw materials lead us to huge losses but as an association we are grateful that the matter is addressed by our proactive government.”
Picture Courtesy: Hanif Sindhi
