Sri Vijaya Puram: Journalist J. Boby, founder of a well-known Andaman-based news outlet and now settled in Dehradun, has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into alleged corruption by former Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of North and Middle Andaman over the prolonged delay in completing National Highway 4 (NH-4). The highway, which connects North and Middle Andaman to South Andaman, has remained incomplete for nearly nine years.
During his recent travel from Dehradun to Noida, Boby recorded a video message drawing a sharp comparison between the swift completion of major infrastructure projects on the mainland and the sluggish progress of NH-4 in the islands. He cited the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, finished within three years, as an example of efficiency, questioning why the Andaman project has stagnated despite heavy public expenditure.
Boby alleged that crores of rupees have been spent on the NH-4 project with little tangible progress on the ground. He claimed that while the road remains unfinished, maintenance work continues to be recorded on paper and funds disbursed, indicating possible financial irregularities. Calling for a CBI probe, he urged authorities to examine the role of former Deputy Commissioners and contractors who supervised the project during its implementation phase.
The journalist noted that several departmental inspections and raids have taken place in the past but yielded no meaningful accountability. He expressed concern over the hardships faced by residents of North and Middle Andaman, pointing out that the incomplete road severely affects commuters, patients, and pregnant women travelling between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur.
Boby also criticized local political representatives, including the sitting Member of Parliament, for their continued silence. He remarked that despite public appeals and repeated promises of development and transparency, little has changed on the ground.
Drawing parallels with earlier corruption cases in the islands, J. Boby said that the absence of follow-up action has emboldened officials involved in mismanagement of public funds. He urged fellow journalists and media outlets to visit the affected areas, document current conditions, and question the functioning of departments responsible for infrastructure.
Beyond the NH-4 issue, Boby highlighted larger concerns about connectivity and infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Despite the establishment of an international airport, he said, limited flight services and high airfares continue to hamper tourism and economic growth.
Concluding his message, J. Boby appealed to both the Andaman administration and the central government to treat the islands with the same urgency as mainland regions, asserting that “Andaman is also a part of India and deserves the same level of attention, accountability, and progress.”
