Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 9: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has appealed to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, seeking immediate and decisive intervention regarding the severely deteriorated condition of NH road works being executed by NHIDCL through their contractors from Baratang to Diglipur in N&M Andaman.
In his communication, the MP expressed deep gratitude to the Ministry for the generous financial support extended under CRIF and National Highway projects. The Ministry had prescribed clear completion timelines for stretches between Baratang and Diglipur, including the Middle Strait–Baratang Creek Bridge, and Packages III(A), III(B), IV, II, and VIII. However, despite financial support and defined deadlines, the MP has flagged serious supervisory lapses, poor monitoring, and substandard execution by NHIDCL engineers and contractors. Large potholes, broken surfaces, collapsing retaining walls, and mudslides have rendered long stretches between Baratang and Mayabunder dangerous and almost unfit for vehicular movement. Even recently completed portions of the NH have already begun deteriorating, signalling alarming quality failures.
Particularly in Betapur, massive cracks resembling post-earthquake damage have emerged due to landslides caused by inadequate construction of protection walls. Similar risks persist across multiple vulnerable stretches. The MP warned that without immediate preventive measures, a major landslide could completely cut off road connectivity between North & Middle Andaman, disrupting the supply of essential goods and severely affecting public life.
Calling the current road condition “worse than what existed prior to NHIDCL taking over from APWD,” Shri Bishnu Pada Ray urged the Hon’ble Minister to take the following actions on priority.
1. Depute an expert team from the Ministry to the A&N Islands to inspect, assess, and strictly monitor the quality of ongoing NH works.
2. Direct NHIDCL to maintain the road ensuring safe and motorable conditions until final works are completed.
3. Fix responsibility and take action against NHIDCL engineers and contractors for their supervisory lapses that have caused hardship to the public and damaged the reputation of the Ministry.
The MP reiterated his unwavering faith in the leadership of Shri Nitin Gadkari and expressed confidence that the Minister’s personal intervention will bring immediate relief and restore public confidence in the National Highway development works.