Amid growing concerns over the Chatham Bridge’s structural safety, the District Magistrate of South Andaman has issued fresh restrictions on vehicle movement, particularly targeting heavy-duty transportation. The revised advisory, issued under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, comes into immediate effect and will remain active until a temporary alternate bridge is made operational.
According to the official notification, the Chatham Bridge’s deck slab and beams are in a “dilapidated condition,” prompting authorities to prohibit the movement of heavy vehicles with loads between 30 and 40 metric tonnes. These precautionary measures are intended to prevent structural failures that could pose risks to commuters and essential logistics passing through one of the busiest vehicular corridors in the island capital.
The order allows only light vehicles with a load capacity of less than 5 metric tonnes to cross the bridge, and that too strictly for the transportation of essential goods. Speed for such vehicles has also been capped at 20 kilometres per hour. This dual restriction on weight and speed is part of a broader attempt to minimise further stress on the already weakened bridge structure.
Enforcement agencies and all concerned departments, including transport operators, have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive. The administration has emphasized that the order is being implemented solely in the interest of public safety and will be reviewed once infrastructure support is strengthened.
Chatham Bridge serves as a key connection for freight and commuter traffic between Sri Vijaya Puram and its surrounding industrial and residential zones. The restriction has immediate implications for businesses, supply chain logistics, and daily transport services that rely on heavy vehicle movement.
While the administration has not released an official timeline for the construction of an alternative temporary bridge, sources within the district office indicated that preparatory work is underway. In the interim, transport operators are expected to reroute heavy cargo or shift to lighter, more frequent deliveries to meet the logistical demand.
Locals and stakeholders in the transport sector have expressed concern about potential delays and increased operational costs. However, the majority view the precaution as a necessary step to avoid a larger crisis. Given the bridge’s role in ferrying food, medical supplies, and construction material, authorities are expected to closely monitor the impact of the restrictions and make adaptive changes if needed.
This isn’t the first time that the Chatham Bridge has faced load-related curbs. Over the past few years, repeated advisories have drawn attention to the need for either a complete overhaul or a parallel structure to support increasing traffic volume. The current directive reiterates the urgency with which infrastructure in the region needs to be modernized to match rising demand.
With the monsoon season, concerns are expected to heighten. Reduced vehicular load may offer some breathing room for engineers monitoring the bridge’s health, but a long-term solution remains pending. For now, the spotlight is back on the Chatham Bridge, not for its connectivity, but for what it can no longer support.
