January 1: The construction of private houses has been affected by price hike of construction materials in addition to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.

The price of iron rods, cement, bricks, sand and aggregates have all increased, and this has in turn affected the construction works.

One of the construction entrepreneurs informed that those willing to construct personal houses are in a wait and watch situation as the cost of iron had increased of late. Nepal mostly imports iron and other related materials from abroad. The price of iron rods and other materials made of iron has gone up due to the increase in the price of billets that are imported from India and third countries.

The price of iron rod has increased between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Earlier, the price of iron rod was Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.

Likewise, the price of cement has also increased by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per sack. Aggregates, which used to cost Rs 22,000 per truck, now costs Rs 30,000.

The increase in price of construction materials is expected to increase the cost of constructing private and residential houses.

Chairman of the Federation of Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs of Nepal, Mohan Katuwal, says that the cost of metal frameworks has increased because they have to purchase iron from the mills at increased rate.

Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar says that the price of bricks has increased nominally. According to him, the price of bricks has increased from 10 to 15 percent depending on the shape of the bricks.

Chitrakar informed that a normal brick costs Rs 17 per piece while special shaped bricks costs Rs 25 per piece.