Mon Mar 17 17:35:36 UTC 2025: ## M-Sand Price Surge Cripples Construction in Tamil Nadu
**Chennai, March 18, 2025** – A sharp increase in the price of manufactured sand (M-sand) has brought construction activity across Tamil Nadu to a standstill, with costs doubling in just a month. This price hike, coupled with a shortage of M-sand, has left thousands of lorry operators and builders facing significant hardship.
The cost of M-sand has skyrocketed from ₹650 per tonne to ₹1,250 per tonne since February, according to R. Munirathinam, president of the Southern Lorry Owners Welfare Association. Similarly, the price of blue metal doubled to ₹1,000 per tonne, and P-sand (plastering sand) increased from ₹750 to ₹1,500 per tonne. This has resulted in 90% of the state’s 75,000 lorries being idle.
The restriction of quarrying hours to 12 hours is cited as a major factor contributing to the reduced M-sand production. The cost of a single truckload has risen from ₹28,000 to ₹55,000. This, combined with a shortage of river sand, has increased construction costs by ₹100 per square foot in urban areas, according to S. Jagadeesan of the Metropolitan Civil Engineers Association. Approximately 30% of ongoing projects in and around Chennai have been stalled as a result.
The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that only a small fraction of the state’s approximately 4,000 M-sand crusher units have obtained quality approvals and utilize the e-way bill system. While the Public Works Department has certified 460 M-sand manufacturers, applications for nearly 159 more are pending review.
Lorry operators report a drastic reduction in daily trips, from 6,000 to approximately 3,000 in Chennai and surrounding districts. Both lorry owners and builders are urging the state government to intervene, regulate prices, and allow quarries to operate for longer hours to alleviate the crisis.
First Piper 