Port Blair, Dec. 6: Mr. Vishal Jolly, National Executive Member BJP has written a letter Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari regarding the extremely pathetic condition of NH-4 in North & Middle Andaman District.
Mr. Vishal Jolly in his letter said that the unprecedented infrastructural development has taken place throughout our Country under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India. The National Highways & the Bridges that are being constructed is of international standards and the same are playing crucial role in building a #NewIndia.
Likewise, the people of our Islands were also happy & satisfied with the manner in which the construction of National Highway-4 began and completed at the South Andaman region. The Azad Hind Fauj Setu (Bridge) at Kadamtala is also a marvellous work that has been helping the people of North & Middle Andaman District immensely; he added.
Further he mentioned that the people residing at North & Middle Andaman are suffering enormously due to the extremely pathetic condition of the NH-4 in that region. The economic development and the transport system have collapsed due to the pitiable condition of NH-4. The construction of NH-4 was awarded to National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) in the year 2016 and even after elapse of almost 6 years, the work is yet to be completed. It will not be incorrect to say that there is hardly any road like structure at all in many of the stretches between Kadamtala, Bakultala, Rangat upto Diglipur.
Mr. Jolly further also mentioned that the yardstick, method and quality of work adopted by NHIDCL in South Andaman District was completely different from the works that are being done at North & Middle Andaman District. It has been informed that due to non-availability the good quarry products, the previously constructed road materials were rolled over for the new construction and they say that the same was done after obtaining necessary approval.
He also wrote that the road construction in that region is difficult considering the fact that around 09 months we have rainy season, yet, the truth is that the concerned contractors have miserably failed in their management and performance of work.
Mr. Jolly requested the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways to take a serious note of the facts as contemplated herein above and take all needful steps to make sure that the construction work of NH-4 gets completed at the earliest by strictly maintaining the standards of National Highways, in the interest of people of A & N Islands.