Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 1: The Chairman of the Campaign Committee- ANTCC, Shri G. Bhasker, has made a strong appeal to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to personally travel by National Highway-4 from Jirkatang to Diglipur and witness firsthand the deplorable condition of the road and the hardships being faced by the people of North and Middle Andaman.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Shri Bhasker stated that NH-4, which serves as the lifeline of North and Middle Andaman, continues to remain in an extremely poor and deteriorating condition despite repeated assurances regarding its improvement and completion.
Shri Bhasker recalled that following the Chakka Jam organised by the Congress Party on 1st November 2025, which was subsequently called off after assurances regarding the improvement and completion of NH-4, NHIDCL had assured in writing that the pending road works would be completed by the end of June 2026. However, according to Shri Bhasker, the ground situation remains far from satisfactory even after the promised deadline.
Shri Bhasker highlighted the condition of different stretches of NH-4. The Jirkatang to Middle Strait stretch, despite earlier work, has deteriorated at several places. Between Baratang and Kadamtala, around 80 percent of the road is reportedly in good condition, but the remaining 20 percent is yet to be completed. From Kadamtala to Parlobjig Gate No. 15, only around 40 percent of the work has been completed, leaving the remaining stretch in poor condition. The stretch from Parlobjig Gate No. 15 to Bakultala Junction is reportedly in an extremely bad condition, making travel difficult and unsafe. Between Bakultala and Rangat, only around 40 percent of the work has been completed, while the remaining portion is still pending.
Shri Bhasker further pointed out that the Rangat to Billiground stretch, which had been completed earlier, has now become severely dilapidated, with the road surface having opened up at several places. The Billiground to Mayabunder stretch has also deteriorated badly, with several locations lacking a proper road surface. The Mayabunder to Diglipur stretch, despite having remained in good condition after earlier completion, has now deteriorated significantly and poses a serious risk to motorists and commuters.
Shri Bhasker stated that the continuing deterioration of NH-4 raises serious questions regarding the quality of road construction, supervision, monitoring and accountability. He said that the people of North and Middle Andaman cannot be expected to continue suffering because of delays, poor execution and inadequate monitoring of such a critical infrastructure project.
He has expressed concern over the possibility of a system in which road stretches are allowed to deteriorate until the applicable warranty period is exhausted, after which fresh tenders are floated for repair and maintenance. Shri Bhasker has termed this a high-level corruption.
He has therefore urged the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to personally travel from Jirkatang to Diglipur by NH-4 rather than relying only on official reports and representations. Such a visit, he said, would provide the Administration with a direct understanding of the difficulties faced every day by patients, transporters, tourists, students, workers and the general public.
A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands; the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration; and the Executive Director, NHIDCL, Port Blair, seeking their immediate intervention and necessary action on the deteriorating condition of NH-4.