Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 30: Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of National Highway-4 works and directed the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to accelerate execution and complete the project within the stipulated timelines, bringing renewed administrative focus to a highway that has remained a persistent source of concern for residents of North and Middle Andaman.
The direction came during a review meeting at Lok Niwas on Tuesday, where the Public Works Department presented the proposed road construction projects in the Islands. The Lieutenant Governor specifically directed NHIDCL to expedite NH-4 works and ensure that difficulties being faced by the general public due to poor road conditions and delays in execution are addressed promptly.
The latest intervention comes after years of delays on several sections of NH-4, which serves as the principal road link between Sri Vijaya Puram and North and Middle Andaman. The highway is critical not only for daily commuters but also for movement of essential supplies, public transport, tourism and emergency services.
The Wave Andaman had earlier reported that several stretches of NH-4 remained incomplete or had deteriorated despite assurances that pending works would be completed by the end of June 2026. A September 3 report highlighted continuing problems across sections between Jirkatang and Diglipur and a demand for direct assessment of the highway by the Lieutenant Governor.
The condition of the highway has also repeatedly affected traffic movement during the monsoon. In June, flooding brought traffic to a standstill at multiple locations in Middle Andaman, with hundreds of vehicles stranded. Temporary restoration measures were required at Bamboo Tickery, Kaushalya Nagar and Kalu Chowk in Bakultala before traffic could be restored.
The repeated disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of a road corridor on which the northern districts depend heavily. Any prolonged interruption can affect passenger movement, transport operators and the movement of essential commodities between the southern and northern parts of the Islands.
The NH-4 issue has also been the subject of repeated reviews and assurances. In August, MP Bishnu Pada Ray reviewed the progress of NH-4 works with NHIDCL officials following a field inspection of several stretches. Officials attributed delays in some packages to contractor performance, including termination and re-awarding of contracts, and assured that the works would be completed according to the timelines under the new agreements.
The Baratang-Middle Strait bridge has been among the projects affected by contractual delays. The issue has remained particularly significant because the bridge forms a critical component of the highway connectivity between the southern and northern sections of the Islands.
More recently, Ray sought urgent intervention from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over the condition of the Kadamtala-Diglipur stretch and the slow progress of the Baratang Creek Bridge. He called for immediate maintenance to keep the highway safe and motorable, greater deployment of manpower and machinery, accountability for delays and completion of pending works within the committed December 2026 timeline.
The prolonged nature of the NH-4 problem has also previously drawn public and political protests. In 2025, a Chakka Jam was organised over the condition of the highway, following which assurances were reportedly given regarding improvement and completion of pending works. Subsequent deterioration and incomplete stretches have kept the issue alive.
The Wave Andaman’s earlier in-depth reporting had also documented the financial and execution history of major NH-4 packages, including repeated contractual difficulties and revised completion schedules. The report noted that some packages originally scheduled for completion several years earlier remained subject to delays, adding to concerns over the economic and public cost of prolonged construction.
Against this backdrop, the Lieutenant Governor’s latest direction places greater emphasis on administrative monitoring and adherence to deadlines.
Dr. Sharma directed the concerned authorities to regularly monitor the progress of NH-4 and ensure that works are executed within the prescribed timeframe. He also stressed that road construction must adhere to transparent tendering procedures and required quality standards.
The emphasis on quality is significant given that some stretches that had previously undergone work have subsequently been reported to deteriorate. This has raised public concerns not only over completion delays but also over construction quality, maintenance and supervision.
The Lieutenant Governor’s directions come as the Administration is simultaneously reviewing road infrastructure requirements across the Islands. The Public Works Department has been asked to take forward proposed road construction works while the authorities responsible for NH-4 have been instructed to accelerate the existing project.
For residents of North and Middle Andaman, the immediate concern remains the condition of the highway they depend on for access to Sri Vijaya Puram and other parts of the Islands.
With another round of deadlines and administrative directions now in place, the focus will be on whether the renewed monitoring translates into visible progress on the ground, particularly across the stretches that remain incomplete or have deteriorated.
The latest directive therefore places NHIDCL under renewed scrutiny, with the Administration seeking faster execution, closer monitoring and adherence to quality and completion timelines on a highway that remains central to the Islands’ internal connectivity.
