The roads of South Andaman have descended into a state of disrepair that makes daily travel a challenge for commuters, drivers, and pedestrians alike. From Dairy Farm to Bhatubasti, Garacharma to Chouldari, Hawaghar Junction to Chakargaon, the story is the same across the city. Potholes, waterlogged stretches, broken pavements, and uneven surfaces are now a daily ordeal, forcing locals to navigate treacherous conditions that endanger lives, vehicles, and livelihoods.
For residents of Mahaveer Nagar, Prothrapur, the frustration reached a tipping point recently. Fed up with the administration’s inaction, locals pooled their own resources to repair a badly damaged stretch of road. While the effort demonstrates community solidarity, it has also sparked outrage over the role of elected representatives and municipal authorities, highlighting the widening disconnect between citizen expectations and governance delivery.
“The area road is narrow and has been in a state of neglect for months. Completely damaged, with potholes and uneven surfaces, it makes daily commute nearly impossible, especially during the rainy season. Despite repeated complaints, no action was taken, so we carried out the repair work ourselves,” said Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Mahaveer Nagar.
The road conditions are affecting daily life in profound ways. Schoolchildren are among the most vulnerable. “Many auto drivers refuse to come here because of the road’s condition, and during rains it becomes even more difficult to travel safely. We have to walk the entire way to school and back home every day,” a student from Mahaveer Nagar told The Wave Andaman.
Motorists face constant vehicle damage and rising maintenance costs, while two-wheeler riders risk accidents navigating pothole-ridden paths. Bus passengers are jolted through bumpy rides that test patience, health, and nerves alike. Even pedestrians are not spared, broken pavements and water-filled craters force them to walk dangerously close to moving traffic, raising the likelihood of accidents.
While Mahaveer Nagar has become the emblem of community-led intervention, the problem spans the entire city and beyond. The Birdline stretch leading to Chidiyatapu, the Andaman Trunk Road (NH-4) connecting the southernmost points of the islands, and numerous inter-island link roads are also in alarming conditions. Residents describe highways that resemble “a chain of potholes rather than functioning roads,” underscoring the risk for buses, ambulances, and other essential services.
Political representatives have repeatedly raised the issue. MP Bishnu Pada Ray has highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has, on multiple occasions, returned a large portion of its allocated central funds instead of using them to improve roads and civic infrastructure. Opposition leaders have alleged that despite ₹3,500 crore being spent on the National Highway project, “the money has vanished, but the road has not appeared.”
The anger of commuters is also visible online. Social media posts criticise authorities for neglecting basic infrastructure, questioning why tax-paying citizens are forced to shoulder the financial burden of repairs. Many argue that municipal bodies have failed in their mandate if residents must step in to maintain fundamental services themselves.
The consequences of this neglect are far-reaching. Public safety is compromised daily, as vehicles suffer frequent damage, and emergency services face delays. Patients, schoolchildren, and office-goers alike are forced to navigate hazardous routes, while local businesses and markets bear the cost of disrupted logistics. For a city that serves as a gateway to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a hub for tourism, trade, and governance, the state of its roads is both inconvenient and embarrassing.
Local frustration is compounded by the lack of accountability. Patchwork repairs, often done hastily before VIP visits or election seasons, crumble at the first sign of rain, providing no lasting solution. Residents feel caught in a vicious cycle of promises, temporary fixes, and worsening infrastructure.
The Mahaveer Nagar incident is a stark illustration of citizen-led resilience but also a wake-up call. While residents commendably organized and funded their own repairs, they stress that such solutions cannot replace systematic governance. The episode exposes a critical governance gap: when roads, the veins of daily life, fall into disrepair, every citizen suffers.
Moreover, the problem transcends Mahaveer Nagar. Stretches across Sri Vijaya Puram and southern Andaman frequently force drivers to swerve around potholes, risking collisions, delays, and damage. For buses and larger vehicles, the potholes cause delays, mechanical failures, and discomfort for passengers. Pedestrians negotiating these routes during heavy rains are forced into life-threatening situations.
Residents and local observers stress that roads are more than just infrastructure; they are a matter of dignity, safety, and access. They link schools, hospitals, markets, workplaces, and administrative offices. When roads are neglected, the city’s residents face cumulative losses in time, finances, and well-being. The issue has become not just a question of convenience but of life itself.
Calls for accountability have grown louder. Community-led repairs, while commendable, are not sustainable solutions. Local leaders, MP, and municipal bodies must take urgent action to ensure permanent repair, maintenance, and upgrading of road infrastructure. Otherwise, locals warn, public frustration may escalate into larger civic protests.
“This is about respect for citizens. We pay taxes, we contribute to the city, and yet we are forced to fix what is supposed to be the administration’s responsibility,” said another Mahaveer Nagar resident, reflecting the collective frustration that stretches from Dairy Farm to Chakargaon.
The Mahaveer Nagar example should not be seen as an isolated success story but as a glaring warning. Roads in the Andaman Islands, connecting the capital to far-flung areas and inter-island points, are in dire need of comprehensive repair and governance intervention. Without systemic attention, daily hardships will continue, and the cost in safety, health, and public trust will only escalate.
As the rains intensify and potholes worsen, the residents of Sri Vijaya Puram and surrounding areas continue to endure treacherous journeys every day. The message is clear: community spirit, while laudable, cannot replace accountable governance. It remains to be seen whether the Administration and political representatives will heed this warning and take meaningful action before the broken roads become a permanent feature of island life.
