Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament representing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has urged the Union Territory Administration to immediately prepare and forward pending road work estimates under the Central Road Fund (CRF) to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for approval. The call comes amid concerns that incomplete submissions by the Administration have left large parts of the islands excluded from recent funding allocations.
The MP recalled that with limited funds available under the Union Territory’s Capital Head, he had personally approached Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari seeking central assistance for road development. Following the request, the Ministry had agreed to provide ₹100 crore under the CRF and instructed the Andaman Administration to submit detailed project estimates. However, the Administration, through the Public Works Department (APWD), submitted only partial proposals instead of comprehensive estimates for all three districts. This led to approvals being granted only for certain works.
On August 28, 2025, MoRTH conveyed sanction for 90 road projects worth ₹4,998.69 lakh. These covered 49 works across 24 municipal wards and 41 works under APWD divisions, including Prothrapur, Wimberly Gunj, Hut Bay, and Campbell Bay. While the sanction was welcomed, it also triggered concerns among Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and residents of North and Middle Andaman as well as Nicobar Districts, who questioned why their regions had been left out of the proposals.
The MP said the Administration’s reasoning for the delay in preparing estimates, citing non-availability of local stone quarries and the costs of importing quarry materials, does not reflect the ground situation. Referring to inputs obtained from the District Administration of North and Middle Andaman and an IIT Kharagpur study, he noted that adequate local stone resources exist in areas such as Panchawati, but remain largely untapped with only about 10 per cent utilized.
Ray described APWD’s repeated explanations as an “improper assessment of ground realities” and warned that such lapses have already delayed key projects, including the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III). These delays, he said, have created resentment among islanders who feel excluded from development benefits.
With road connectivity forming a critical part of infrastructure across the scattered geography of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, delays in sanctioning projects have significant implications. Districts such as North and Middle Andaman rely on road upgrades not only for connectivity between villages but also for access to health, education, and trade. The exclusion of estimates from these districts is now being seen as a major gap in the planning process.
The MP has demanded that the APWD immediately reassess the availability of resources in consultation with the District Administration of North and Middle Andaman, and without further delay, prepare and forward the pending estimates to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He stressed that the matter should be treated with urgency, given the developmental aspirations of the people in all three districts of the Union Territory.
Observers note that while the recent sanction of 90 road works is a positive step, comprehensive planning will be essential to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure projects across the islands. For residents of regions left out of the proposals, the expectation is that pending estimates will soon be submitted, ensuring they too benefit from central funding under the CRF.
The issue also highlights the importance of coordination between local administrations, technical assessments, and central agencies in securing funds for infrastructure projects. With the Ministry having already committed financial support, the onus now lies on the Administration to ensure that the opportunity is fully utilized.
