With the District Planning Committee meetings across the three districts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands now concluded, Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has issued an urgent appeal to all Gram Panchayats to submit a list of critical infrastructure projects. The move comes ahead of the UT-level committee meeting that will finalize the Annual Action Plan and fund allocation for 2025-2026.
In a circular dated June 7, Ray highlighted that the total sanctioned capital budget for all departments in the upcoming financial year stands at ₹555 crore, a figure he called “very limited” in light of competing demands from 41 government departments. In this context, he urged Panchayat-level bodies to identify and propose at least six essential works that require urgent attention in their respective areas.
The directive asks for works related to roads, culverts, bridges, drainage, drinking water pipelines, retaining walls, and other critical infrastructure to be submitted in a fixed format. Each Gram Panchayat has been requested to submit the details along with photographic evidence to the MP’s office within three days, either by email or WhatsApp. The collected proposals will be recommended in the forthcoming meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
The appeal also emphasizes non-duplication of projects. Panchayats have been advised not to include works already approved or sanctioned under existing schemes such as PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), CRF (Central Road Fund), or SFA (State Finance Allocation). Specifically, works for converting katcha roads to pucca roads must comply with PMGSY-IV norms, which stipulate a minimum population of 250 and road width of 6 meters.
Ray clarified that any road already sanctioned under PMGSY-III or under repair by APWD should not be proposed again under UT fund allocations to avoid overlaps and wastage of public resources.
Two separate formats have been prescribed for submissions:
- For roads and general works: This format must specify the name of the work, the responsible body (e.g., APWD, Zilla Parishad, Samity, Pradhan), and a brief note on the project’s urgency and importance.
- For departmental works: This format requires naming the department (such as Health, Education, or Rural Development) along with a short justification for why the work is considered a priority.
The initiative appears to be aimed at democratising the planning process while ensuring that ground realities are reflected in the final UT-level allocation of funds. However, with only ₹555 crore to be distributed across 41 departments, competition is expected to be intense. The MP’s office has indicated that projects showing clear local benefit, urgency, and compliance with existing guidelines will be prioritised.
The request also reflects a shift toward decentralised decision-making, with Gram Panchayats being asked to play a more active role in identifying and flagging works based on community needs. It remains to be seen whether all Panchayats will be able to respond within the short window provided, and whether the infrastructure priorities gathered from across the islands will make it into the final Annual Action Plan.
The proposals can be sent to [email protected] or shared via WhatsApp on 9476023658 / 9434296671. MP Ray’s office has assured that these submissions will be taken forward for review, recommendation, and possible sanction in the current financial cycle.
As fund allocation discussions enter a crucial phase, the spotlight now shifts to how effectively grassroots priorities are consolidated and translated into executable development works for the islands.
