Multiple reports describe worsening road conditions in Ludhiana as a shortage of bitumen affects ongoing maintenance work before the onset of rains. The lack of the paving material is reported to be delaying road repairs and contributing to an increase in potholes. The coverage also links the disruption of some roadworks in Punjab to a separate external factor: uncertainty and halted operations related to the conflict in Iran, which affects supplies and logistics for materials used in construction.
Taken together, the articles portray a supply-chain problem with material availability and delivery timelines that reduces the pace of patching and resurfacing efforts. With rain approaching, officials and residents face the prospect that existing damage may deteriorate further if repairs cannot be completed in time. The reports frame the situation as a combination of local infrastructure maintenance challenges and broader trade or sourcing disruptions that limit bitumen supply, leading to continued reliance on temporary measures while work remains constrained.