The ongoing development of the NH-04 corridor in North and Middle Andaman, a lifeline connecting Sri Vijaya Puram to Diglipur, has hit another roadblock with revised deadlines pushing the completion of the much-awaited Middle Strait Creek Bridge to the end of 2026.
In a written communication dated August 21, 2025, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari acknowledged delays in multiple packages of the NH-04 project, particularly the Middle Strait Bridge and the adjoining stretches at Baratang and Austin Creek. The letter was issued in response to concerns raised by Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament from the islands.
Gadkari clarified that work schedules were hampered by unexpected weather conditions this year, with the monsoon setting in nearly two months earlier than usual. The early rains in April disrupted construction timelines, affecting bridge and road projects across the Middle and North Andaman stretch.
The Minister’s letter also highlighted contractual setbacks. The earlier contract for the Middle Strait Bridge had been terminated in June 2023 owing to unsatisfactory progress, and a fresh contract was awarded in May 2024. “The new contractor has fully mobilized on site, piling work is in progress, and the project is now targeted for completion by December 31, 2026,” Gadkari wrote.
According to the annexed project status report, the Middle Strait Bridge, which commenced in May 2024, has so far achieved only 5.23% physical progress against an initial completion date of February 2025. This has now been revised by nearly two years.
Other road packages show mixed progress. Package IIIA and IIIB, both critical to the NH-04 alignment, are behind schedule with less than 40% work completed. Their new target date has been extended to March 2026. Package IV, which started in 2018, stands at 84% completion and is expected to be ready by December 2025. Package II and Package VIII are among the better-performing sections, with over 85% completion and expected handover by December 2025.
Gadkari further informed that NHIDCL officials and the Authority’s Engineer are regularly supervising the sites in accordance with IRC and MoRTH standards. Monthly review meetings at NHIDCL headquarters are being conducted to resolve pending issues.
The Middle Strait Creek Bridge is a key component of the National Highway-04 (NH-04) development project, which links Sri Vijaya Puram in South Andaman with Diglipur in North Andaman. Currently, the stretch across the Middle Strait depends on ferry services, which are often delayed or suspended due to rough seas, technical breakdowns, or limited capacity.
The bridge, once completed, will provide a seamless all-weather road link across the creek, eliminating dependence on ferries. This is expected to:
Cut travel time between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur significantly.
Boost tourism by offering reliable road access to popular spots like Baratang’s limestone caves, Rangat’s beaches, and Diglipur’s twin islands Ross & Smith.
Improve emergency response by ensuring uninterrupted movement of ambulances and essential supplies.
Facilitate economic growth through faster transport of goods and easier mobility for residents.
Along with bridges at Baratang and Austin Creek, the Middle Strait crossing is seen as the most critical missing link in the archipelago’s road network. The delay in its construction has prolonged inconvenience for residents and slowed down regional development.
Once operational, the bridge is expected to transform inter-island connectivity and become a backbone for the islands’ economy and tourism.
While the revised deadlines provide some clarity, the repeated extensions are likely to disappoint residents and travellers who rely on NH-04 for essential connectivity between South, Middle, and North Andaman. The Middle Strait Creek crossing remains a vital link in this chain, and its delay prolongs dependence on ferry services that are often disrupted due to weather.
For the islanders, the completion of NH-04 and its bridges is not just a matter of convenience but also of economic growth, emergency response, and tourism development. With deadlines now stretching into 2026, the long wait for a seamless road link across the archipelago continues.
