Port Blair, June 9: The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, along with Commissioner (PWD), Smti Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Secretary (PWD), Ms. Purva Garg, IAS, and Chief Engineer, APWD visited various road works being executed by APWD in Ferrargunj Tehsil of South Andaman. The Chief Secretary inspected the roads completed by APWD during the last financial year in Mithakhari, Ferrargunj, Bambooflat and Hopetown. The Department Engineers did the quality control test like bitumen content, thickness etc. in front of the Chief Secretary which were found to be satisfactory.

The Chief Secretary also visited the on-going works of Kadakachang- Wimberlygunj, Wimberlygung- Wrightmyo and Chunnabhatta to North Bay road. He also checked the field lab established by the executing agency at the Chunabhatta road. The Chief Secretary directed to ensure to maintain the mandatory quality control checks while executing the works to ensure long lasting of the constructed work.

The Chief Secretary further directed APWD to carry out third party quality check in the works being executed by APWD through UT budget as being done in the case of PMGSY work. It was also directed to include street design features which was approved recently in all the future road estimates to ensure optimum utilisation of facility by the general public, and aesthetic view. The street design features include hard berm, footpath, street furniture, bus bay, street light provisions and drains wherever required based on the population, utility of the road.

During the visit, it was also emphasised on preparing design of the road in consultation with Expert agency like CRRI based on the quality of soil of the Islands, topography and climatic condition so that the work executed by various executing agencies last for long.

It was also suggested to eco-friendly develop the road side space in the North Bay road for the tourists to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place with seating arrangements and other facilities.