The construction cost index for December 2002 to May 2003 rose by 4.5 per cent primarily due to a steep hike in basic inputs, cement and steel, the Construction Industry Development Council said in its latest updates.
The increase in the cost index for the five-month review period also indicated an average 0.9 per cent monthly rise in construction cost across six cities including the four metros.
Basic inputs like cement recorded a 15 per cent rise while steel recorded 12 per cent rise during the five-month period.
The national average rise in cost of construction since the base period of January 1998 till May 2003 stood at 19.48 per cent.
Delhi posted the highest cost variation at 4.73 per cent during the review period among the four metros.
New Delhi was followed by Mumbai at 4.51 per cent, Chennai (4.47 per cent) and Kolkata (4.34 per cent).
Construction cost rose 4.51 per cent in Bangalore during December 2002 to May 2003 while it recorded 4.49 per cent rise in Hyderabad.
Construction cost variation between the base year period (January 1988) and May 2003 was the highest in Hyderabad city at 22.49 per cent followed by Mumbai at 26.18 per cent, Delhi (18.6 per cent), Kolkata (18.41 per cent) and Bangalore (16.5 per cent).
The cost variation during May 2003 with respect to the base year month stood the lowest in Chennai at 14.75 per cent.
The cost index for building construction recorded the highest 25.21 per cent rise in Mumbai during May 2003, against the base year month.
Road cost recorded the highest 24.22 per cent increase in Bangalore, followed by Mumbai at 22 per cent.
Bridge cost posted the highest 27.33 per cent increase in Mumbai while the city also recorded the highest 25.19 per cent rise in construction of dams.
Cost index for maintenance recorded the highest 28.07 per cent rise in Mumbai, while in Bangalore it was the lowest at 16.07 per cent.
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