Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 21: Road connectivity and healthcare infrastructure, two key public services affecting residents across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, were at the centre of separate engagements on Wednesday as Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray reviewed delayed National Highway-4 (NH-4) works and later inaugurated a new Operation Theatre (OT) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Amrita Health Centre in Shadipur.
The review of NH-4 upgradation and reconstruction works was held at the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) Regional Office at Prothrapur. The meeting followed a field inspection by an NHIDCL team of various stretches of NH-4 in North and Middle Andaman. The team was led by the Director, NHIDCL, Delhi, who visited the Islands on the directions of the Managing Director, NHIDCL, after Ray met the Managing Director in New Delhi on July 29, 2026.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the status of every NH-4 stretch and project package in the presence of NHIDCL officials and the concerned contractors. The discussions examined the reasons behind delays in the highway’s upgradation and reconstruction, and specific completion timelines were fixed for each stretch in accordance with the contractual agreements.
NHIDCL officials informed the MP that work on certain stretches had failed to progress as scheduled because of negligence and poor performance by some contractors. They said those contracts had been terminated or re-awarded, resulting in delays. Officials added that fresh contracts have since been executed and efforts are underway to complete the works within the timelines prescribed under the respective agreements.
The meeting also reviewed the bridge connecting Middle Strait and Baratang. Officials stated that similar contractual issues had affected the project and said necessary steps are being taken to execute and complete the work within the timeline laid down under the new contract.
Ray said the prolonged delay in NH-4 works had caused considerable hardship to residents of North and Middle Andaman. He noted that commuters, transport operators, travel agents and other road users have been facing serious difficulties because of the poor condition of the highway. Stressing that NH-4 serves as the principal road link connecting the Islands, he called for priority execution of the remaining works without further delay and urged NHIDCL to ensure strict monitoring, close supervision and accountability wherever lapses occur.
NHIDCL officials assured the MP that strengthened supervision by engineers and closer monitoring of contractors would help complete the ongoing works within the target dates specified in the agreements. They also said all necessary measures would be taken to improve road conditions and minimise inconvenience to the public during execution of the works.
Later on Aug. 20, Ray inaugurated a newly established Operation Theatre and Intensive Care Unit at Amrita Health Centre, Shadipur, Sri Vijayapuram. The facilities have been established by Amrita Hospital, Kochi, to strengthen healthcare services at the centre and provide improved medical and surgical care to patients.
The new OT and ICU will enable the health centre to provide a wider range of elective surgical procedures, including hernia, appendicitis, gynaecological surgeries, hydrocele, gallbladder-related surgeries, fracture-related procedures and other general surgical interventions. The facility is expected to improve access to healthcare and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the Islands for such treatments.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ray appreciated Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and the Amrita Health Centre team for establishing the facilities and expressed hope that they would provide timely and quality treatment to patients from Sri Vijayapuram and other parts of the Islands.
Centre In-charge Durga Prasad, Dr. Omkar Singh, MD (Medicine) and former DHS, Dr. Manish, In-charge of IP at the centre, other doctors, paramedical staff, members of the Amrita Health Centre team, distinguished guests and devotees of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi attended the inauguration.
