An Empirical Study on the Delays in Construction Projects in India

Abstract

Construction projects are complex and frequently impacted by several variables that could delay their completion and the need for a systematic analysis of the reasons for delays and developing a clear understanding of the industry professionals is highly crucial. This study aims to identify and evaluate the delay factors in construction projects in India and their effects on project performance. Through a detailed literature review, 42 attributes were identified–31 related to project delays and 11 to their effect. A first-stage questionnaire was designed based on these attributes and a total of 129 stakeholders in the Indian real estate industry from 50 different organizations were included in the survey. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis, and structural equation modelling were utilized to analyze the respondents’ viewpoints. Exploratory factor analysis extracted seven delay factors: poor stakeholder coordination; delays in availability of materials; contractor’s performance; unfavourable government regulations; poor site management; quality and safety risks; and inefficient construction method and equipment. Similarly, three effect factors: ethical and social impact; cost and time overrun; and contract dissolution were extracted. Notably, quality and safety risks emerged as the most significant delay factor, as indicated by regression analysis and structural equation modelling. To obtain a better understanding of the factors, it is essential to determine their relative significance in comparison to one another, for which a second-stage questionnaire survey was conducted and 20 highly experienced construction professionals from different construction organizations participated in the survey via personal interviews. The relative weights of each delay and effect factor and their attributes were assigned using a fuzzy preference relation. Due to the complexity of the construction industry, this study’s scope was restricted to real estate projects in Gujarat, India. However, given the broad engagement of these companies nationwide, the study’s findings should be applicable across the nation. Previous studies primarily identified the delay factors and their effects without indicating their interdependencies. However, in the present study, the authors have tried to elaborate on the interdependencies between delay and effect factors, highlighting their influences on construction projects. The study's findings will help professionals in the construction management field by allowing them to concentrate on a smaller number of factors instead of dealing with a lot of factors to achieve the best outcome. This insight enables the stakeholders to reduce delays and improve their understanding of construction project management in India, enabling more effective strategies for mitigating delays and optimizing project success.