In a significant move following the large-scale “Chakka Jam” protest on November 1, the Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has lodged formal First Information Reports (FIRs) at Baratang and Rangat Police Stations over what it described as the “disappearance” of the National Highway-4 (NH-4). The FIRs, filed by T.S.G. Bhasker, Chairman of the ANTCC Campaign Committee, seeks an immediate investigation into the neglected and missing portions of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), a crucial link connecting Sri Vijaya Puram with the northern districts of Rangat and Diglipur.
The FIR filing came a day after the Congress Party organized a peaceful “Chakka Jam” protest to highlight the deteriorating condition of the ATR. The protest, held from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, drew the participation of over 700 people including local residents, party workers, and community leaders from across North and Middle Andaman. Despite repeated assurances over the years, the ATR remains largely in disrepair, prompting renewed public anger and political mobilisation.
Stretching around 330 km from Chidiyatapu to Diglipur, the ATR, originally built in the early 1970s under the GREF and PWD, serves as the only major surface connection between Sri Vijaya Puram and the northern districts. In 2017, the project was handed over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for reconstruction, with work beginning the following year. However, progress has been slow. While the Chidiyatapu to Jirkatang stretch was completed in 2023, the remaining segment from Jirkatang to Diglipur continues to remain incomplete, with several portions dug up and left unmotorable.
The poor road condition has caused immense hardship for commuters, goods transporters, and patients requiring urgent medical care. Multiple contractors have been replaced, and deadlines repeatedly extended, leaving residents frustrated. Despite earlier protests, road blockades, and the “Jail Bharo Andolan,” the Congress claims that NHIDCL has failed to show tangible progress on the ground, compelling the latest round of demonstrations.
During Friday’s protest, Congress representatives engaged in discussions with NHIDCL officials, including the General Manager, as well as senior officers from the Administration and Police. The NHIDCL General Manager reportedly assured that all remaining stretches between Jirkatang and Diglipur would be completed by 2026, with temporary patchwork to begin immediately for short-term relief. The officials requested seven days to provide a written assurance to the public, a commitment acknowledged by the Additional District Magistrate, the Assistant Commissioner of Rangat, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police who were present at the site.
As part of the protest, demonstrators placed a banana tree inside a pothole, an act meant to symbolically represent the poor state of the highway and draw public attention to the crisis. The demonstration remained peaceful and disciplined, earning praise from both local authorities and the Congress leadership.
Following the event, T.S.G. Bhasker lodged FIRs at Baratang and Rangat Police Stations, demanding that the police investigate the “disappearance” of NH-4 and take action against those responsible for negligence or irregularities in its maintenance. The complaint emphasizes that the NH-4 is not just a road but a critical lifeline supporting travel, trade, and emergency services for thousands of islanders. The lodging of the FIRs underscores Bhasker’s effort to turn public grievance into a formal legal demand for accountability.
ANTCC President Rangalal Halder and Campaign Chairman Bhasker thanked the residents and party workers for their peaceful participation and solidarity. Both leaders reiterated that the Congress Party would continue monitoring the project’s progress until the Andaman Trunk Road is fully restored and safe for commuters.
With the FIRs now filed, attention turns to how the Administration and NHIDCL respond to the complaints and whether visible progress follows the renewed public outcry. For the people of North and Middle Andaman, the restoration of NH-4 remains not just a demand, but a daily necessity.
