Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 22: Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has sought the urgent intervention of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari over what he has described as the “extremely poor and deplorable” condition of the National Highway stretch from Kadamtala to Diglipur in North and Middle Andaman, including the slow progress of the Baratang Creek Bridge.
In a letter dated September 20, Ray urged the Union Minister to issue immediate directions to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to ensure that the entire stretch remains safe and motorable until permanent works are completed.
The letter comes in continuation of an earlier communication dated September 10 addressed to the Managing Director of NHIDCL, in which the MP had raised concerns over the condition of the highway, difficulties faced by daily commuters and the need for immediate corrective measures.
According to Ray’s latest letter, the condition of the highway has deteriorated to a level where several locations are “virtually unfit for safe vehicular movement”. He has enclosed photographs showing large potholes, damaged stretches and inadequate maintenance, stating that the situation has continued despite repeated representations and assurances regarding improvement and completion of the works.
The MP has also pointed to growing public concern over the condition of the highway. His letter states that daily commuters are regularly sharing photographs and videos of the NH condition on social media, highlighting the difficulties faced by motorists, school-going children, patients, public transport and other road users.
Ray has questioned the absence of effective and visible measures by NHIDCL and the concerned contractors to keep the road in proper motorable condition.
He has therefore sought immediate directions for the entire Kadamtala-Diglipur stretch to be properly maintained and kept safe for vehicular movement until the permanent works are completed.
The letter also calls for an urgent review meeting involving senior NHIDCL officials and the concerned contractors, either in the Union Minister’s presence or under his directions. The proposed meeting, according to the MP, should examine the actual progress of ongoing works and fix clear responsibility for the continuing delay.
A significant concern raised in the letter is the December 2026 deadline for completion of the pending works, which Ray says must be strictly adhered to. The deadline, he stated, had been assured during earlier discussions and should include the Baratang Creek Bridge.
The MP has also referred to reasons cited from time to time for delays, including the rainy season, utility shifting and material-related issues. His letter states that these factors cannot by themselves justify continued delays, particularly when people have already been facing difficulties for several years.
Instead, he has called for such issues to be resolved on priority through proper planning, coordination and mobilisation of adequate resources.
Ray has listed five immediate actions in his communication to the Union Minister.
The first is to direct NHIDCL to undertake immediate and proper maintenance of the entire National Highway stretch from Kadamtala to Diglipur and keep it safe and motorable. The second is to convene an urgent review meeting with NHIDCL and the concerned contractors to assess the ground situation and progress of all ongoing works.
The third is to fix clear responsibility on the concerned officials and contractors for poor maintenance and slow progress. The fourth calls for adequate deployment of manpower, machinery and materials so that the works can proceed continuously without further avoidable delays.
The fifth action sought is completion of the pending works within the committed December 2026 timeline, including the Baratang Creek Bridge.
“The people of North & Middle Andaman have been suffering from the poor condition of this vital NH stretch for a long time,” Ray stated in the letter, adding that further delay should not continue at the cost of public safety and convenience.
He has requested Gadkari to personally look into the matter and issue urgent directions to NHIDCL for corrective action. The photographs showing the present ground condition of the highway have also been enclosed with the letter.
A copy of the communication has been forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Dr Dinesh Sharma for information, necessary intervention and follow-up at his end.
A road problem that extends beyond inconvenience
The concern assumes added significance when viewed against the experience of residents who depend on roads in North and Middle Andaman to reach hospitals, schools, workplaces and other essential services.
On August 27, Hadbe resident suffered a leg fracture after his scooter fell into a deep, water-filled pothole while he was travelling in Rangat for personal work. Barman said he was attempting to manoeuvre around multiple potholes when his scooter fell into one whose depth could not be judged because it was filled with water.
He was taken to Rangat hospital and, according to Barman, was subsequently referred to GB Pant Hospital in Sri Vijaya Puram for further treatment. He travelled by boat to the capital and is currently undergoing treatment.
Barman’s case is not cited as an incident on the specific Kadamtala-Diglipur highway stretch referred to in Ray’s letter. Rather, it illustrates the consequences that poor road conditions can have for residents travelling through the island’s remote areas.
His experience also demonstrates why road maintenance is not merely a matter of smoother travel. For patients, schoolchildren, public transport users and daily commuters, the condition of the road can directly affect access to essential services and increase the difficulty and cost of travel.
Ray’s letter now places the condition of the Kadamtala-Diglipur NH stretch and the pending Baratang Creek Bridge before the Union Ministry, with a specific request for immediate maintenance, accountability and adherence to the December 2026 completion target.
The immediate focus, therefore, is no longer only on when the permanent works will be completed, but on what measures will be taken in the interim to ensure that the highway remains safe and motorable for the people who depend on it every day.
