Brick, gravel makers agree to reduce prices

Brick and gravel manufactures in Tamil Nadu have decided to bring down the rates after the state government's intervention. The manufacturers met the Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa today and announced the rate cut, which is expected to help the construction industry, immediately.

After meeting the chief minister, representatives led by K Rathasekar, president, Brick Manufactures Association, announced that they would reduce the price by Rs 3,000 for a load of brick.

Similarly, gravel manufacturers also met the chief minister today, after which they said the rates would be reduced by Rs 700.

Meanwhile, a senior representative of the industry, said that while the decision was welcome, the actual benefit would be passed on the end customer.

When the rates increased substantially, he said, the builders had not passed them on to the customers, but they absorbed it themselves. Per brick rate increased from Rs 20 to Rs 60 and came down to Rs 30. Similarly, the cost of gravel went up to Rs 35 a cubic feet from Rs 20.