Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 20: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, today reviewed the progress of ongoing National Highway (NH-4) upgradation and reconstruction works with officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The meeting was held at the NHIDCL Regional Office, Prothrapur, following a field visit by the NHIDCL team to various stretches of NH-4 in North and Middle Andaman. The team was headed by the Director, NHIDCL, Delhi, who had visited the Islands on the direction of the Managing Director, NHIDCL, following the Hon’ble MP’s meeting with the MD in New Delhi on 29.07.2026.
During the meeting, the present status of each stretch/package of NH-4 was reviewed in detail in the presence of NHIDCL officials and the concerned contractors. The reasons for the delay in the upgradation and reconstruction works were discussed, and specific timelines were fixed for completion of the respective stretches as per the contractual agreements.
The NHIDCL officials informed the Hon’ble MP that in some stretches, the works could not progress as scheduled due to negligence and poor performance on the part of certain contractors, resulting in termination/re-awarding of contracts and consequent delays. It was informed that fresh contracts have since been executed and efforts are being made to complete the works within the timelines stipulated in the respective agreements.
The issue of the bridge connecting Middle Strait and Baratang was also discussed. It was informed that due to similar contractual issues, necessary steps are being taken for execution and completion of the work within the timeline prescribed under the new contract.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray strongly emphasized that the prolonged delay in NH-4 works has caused considerable hardship to the people of North and Middle Andaman. Residents, commuters, transport operators, travel agents and other road users have been facing serious difficulties due to the poor condition of the highway.
The Hon’ble MP stressed that, keeping in view the importance of NH-4 as the main lifeline connecting the Islands, the works must be executed on a priority basis without any further delay. He also urged NHIDCL to ensure strict monitoring and supervision of the works and to fix responsibility wherever lapses occur.
The NHIDCL officials assured the Hon’ble MP that, with strengthened supervision by engineers and close monitoring of the contractors, the ongoing works would be completed within the target dates stipulated in the respective agreements. They further assured that all necessary measures would be taken to improve the road conditions and minimize inconvenience to the people during the execution of the works.