Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 28: School students in Buddha Nallah, a remote settlement in North and Middle Andaman, are being forced to remove their shoes and carry them through a muddy, waterlogged road on their way to school, highlighting a decades-old demand for proper road connectivity that remains unresolved.
The roughly 2.5-km stretch connecting the village to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) remains largely unpaved, making daily travel difficult, particularly during rainfall. Residents say accumulated water, mud and uneven stones make the route hazardous for students and other commuters.
The issue came into focus on September 19 after villagers and students invited Poovarasan, District Secretary of the Our Rights Organisation NGO, North and Middle Andaman District, to inspect the road.
During his visit, Poovarasan walked alongside school students navigating the muddy stretch, some carrying their footwear to prevent it from getting soaked.
He raised concerns about the safety of residents using the road, pointing out that stones and other obstacles become difficult to identify when submerged. He also cautioned about the possibility of snakes and other creatures going unnoticed in waterlogged portions.
Buddha Nallah falls under Gram Panchayat Pahalgaon in Mayabunder Tehsil. According to residents, the absence of an all-weather road has remained a persistent problem despite the settlement having basic facilities such as electricity, water supply and a school.
Administration inspects road
Following the complaints, the Deputy Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman, accompanied by officials from the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and Revenue Department, visited Buddha Nallah on September 21.
The team inspected the existing road and interacted with villagers to assess the difficulties they face.
The visit was followed by a formal intervention from Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, who wrote to the authorities on September 21 seeking early sanction and priority construction of a pucca road connecting Buddha Nallah to the ATR.
In his letter, Ray said residents had been facing serious hardship due to the absence of proper road connectivity for several decades.
He stated that approximately 175 families live in the settlement, including families relocated from forest reserve areas such as Shippi Tikrey and Suglugum.
Despite the presence of a school, electricity and water supply, the habitation continues to lack a dependable all-weather road, the MP pointed out.
Ray requested that the proposed road be sanctioned at the earliest and its construction taken up on priority during the current financial year.
He also acknowledged the Deputy Commissioner’s visit to the settlement and the administration’s efforts to assess the problems on the ground.
The Deputy Commissioner has separately submitted a communication to the MP outlining various issues concerning Buddha Nallah and matters requiring further administrative attention.
Residents seek immediate relief
Poovarasan has appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary, APWD Secretary, Deputy Commissioner and other concerned authorities to expedite the proposed road project.
He has also sought urgent repairs to the existing stretch if construction of a permanent road is delayed due to funding, administrative procedures or pending approvals.
According to the NGO representative, even temporary improvements to the road could provide some relief to students and residents while the proposal for an all-weather road is processed.
The September 21 inspection and the MP’s intervention have brought the longstanding demand back into focus. However, it remains unclear whether the project has received formal sanction, what its estimated cost would be or when construction is likely to begin.
For nearly 175 families in Buddha Nallah, the road is more than a transport requirement. It provides access to education, healthcare, markets and essential services.
As the country pursues its Viksit Bharat 2047 development vision, the situation in Buddha Nallah highlights a more immediate challenge facing remote island communities: ensuring basic connectivity.
For the village’s school students, that would mean something as simple as being able to reach their classrooms without having to remove their shoes and walk through mud.
