The road ministry has booked around one lakh tonne cement for 290 contractors for government projects on the portal launched for procuring cement at cheaper rates last month. According to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the cement has been ordered at the rate of Rs 120-140 per bag, against a market rate of Rs 350 per bag. The road ministry has decided to build concrete cement roads in place of traditional bitumen roads because they are cost-effective and require less maintenance.