Sri Vijaya Puram, April 25: Even as long-pending rural road projects under PMGSY-II finally move forward in parts of North and Middle Andaman, the ceremonies have brought into focus the deeper, unresolved infrastructure challenges faced by island residents.
Foundation stones for four road upgradation projects were laid on April 22 and 23 in Baratang and Kadamtala by Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Sushant Padha and other officials. While the projects are expected to improve connectivity, residents say the move comes after years of hardship caused by poor road conditions that continue to disrupt daily life.
The sanctioned works include a 2.60 km stretch from Alphonous House to Graveyard at Vijaygarh via Easter Toppo House in Sunderghar Gram Panchayat, and three separate roads in Kadamtala, linking ATR to Jarwa Tikri (1.279 km), ATR to Uttara Bada Gol (1.740 km), and ATR to Uttara Corner (2.080 km). These routes are critical for local mobility but have remained in a deteriorated state, affecting access to schools, healthcare facilities, and markets.
Residents across these areas have long complained that the lack of motorable roads has hampered livelihoods and emergency services. In several villages, transport disruptions during monsoons and poor surface conditions have made even short-distance travel difficult, forcing people to rely on costly or unreliable alternatives.
While contractors have assured that the works will be completed within stipulated timelines, past delays in infrastructure delivery have left sections of the public cautious. For many, the foundation-laying marks only the beginning of a process that will need close monitoring to ensure timely execution.
The issue of connectivity was further echoed during public grievance hearing camps organised by the district administration in Baratang and Kadamtala on the same dates. Chaired by the MP and attended by heads of departments under the Rangat Division, the camps saw a wide range of concerns being raised by residents.
Beyond roads, villagers highlighted persistent problems related to land disputes, mutation delays, land conversion issues, and boundary conflicts. Requests for forest clearances and concerns over earth cutting regulations were also brought forward, pointing to administrative bottlenecks that continue to slow development activities in rural areas.
Basic services such as electricity supply and drinking water availability emerged as key concerns, particularly in interior panchayats like Nilambur, Sunderghar, Uttara, and Kadamtala. Residents flagged irregular power supply and recurring water shortages, issues that compound the challenges posed by poor connectivity.
Officials present at the camps assured that the grievances would be addressed following due procedures. However, the volume and diversity of complaints underline the scale of governance challenges in the region, where multiple departments must coordinate to resolve overlapping issues.
For many attendees, the camps provided a rare platform to directly engage with authorities and present long-standing concerns. At the same time, the convergence of road project announcements and grievance hearings has highlighted a broader narrative, while infrastructure projects are being initiated, systemic issues in service delivery and administration remain unresolved.
As rural Andaman awaits the completion of these road projects, the larger question persists: whether such interventions can keep pace with the growing demands for reliable infrastructure and responsive governance in the islands’ remote communities.
