Delay Analysis of Infrastructure Construction Projects in India

Abstract This study investigates the causes and mitigation strategies for delays in infrastructure construction projects in India, with a focus on roads and bridges. Through a comprehensive methodology involving a questionnaire survey of 72 construction management professionals and the application of the Relative Importance Index (RII), the research identifies material-related issues (RII = 0.562), construction site challenges (RII = 0.555), and contractor-related inefficiencies (RII = 0.506) as the primary causes of delays. Key factors include late material deliveries, land acquisition hurdles, design errors, and delayed payments. Sector-specific analysis reveals land acquisition as critical for road projects (RII = 0.68) and design errors for bridges (RII = 0.55). Factor analysis further categorizes delays into four dimensions: Resource & Supply Chain, Government & External Factors, Contractor Management, and Design & Planning. The study proposes targeted mitigation strategies, such as securing reliable suppliers, proactive stakeholder engagement, and advanced planning tools like BIM. Emphasizing the importance of time management alongside cost and quality, the findings provide actionable insights for stakeholders to enhance project efficiency and reduce delays in India’s infrastructure sector.