Port Blair, July 12: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has highlighted a pressing issue concerning the people of the South Andaman region.
In a letter to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands he highlighted the alarming problem of traffic congestion and frequent traffic jams along the Junglighat to Garacharma stretch, which has severely impacted the daily lives and commutes of the residents, especially during office and school hours.
In addition to the mentioned congested route, the Member of Parliament emphasized the significant concern of the Bhatu Basti Junction, a major bottleneck that poses significant challenges for drivers. “The junction serves as a crucial connection point for residents from Chouldari, Wandoor, and Chidiyatapu resulting in a substantial influx of vehicles. It is imperative to address this issue promptly to ease the mounting traffic woes faced by the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” he added.
He mentioned that the upcoming operationalization of the International Airport is expected to lead to increased vehicle influx in the Dairy Farm and Lambaline areas, exacerbating the already challenging situation.
Given the escalating number of vehicles and the lack of road expansion or alternative routes, the Member of Parliament requested immediate action to address this matter before it escalates further. In this context, the Member of Parliament has drawn attention to the proposal presented by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the construction of a coastal road, known as the Andaman Marine Drive from Junglighat to North Bay, passing through Dairy Farm, Dollygunj, and Mithakhari areas. He requested immediate execution of the proposed coastal road project (Andaman Marine Drive).
He pointed out that the proposed coastal road, the Andaman Marine Drive offers a promising solution to the growing traffic congestion. “By providing an alternate route for commuters heading towards Dairy Farm, Dollygunj, Mithakhari, Chouldari, Bambooflat and other areas, it would help alleviate the pressure on the congested Junglighat to Garacharma route, effectively resolving the traffic congestion issue,” the MP added.