Sri Vijaya Puram, June 11: More than 1,500 government residential quarters in the capital are currently in urgent need of repair, with many left abandoned since the 2004 tsunami and never restored. Designed to accommodate public servants across various departments, these structures now reflect years of systemic neglect and bureaucratic apathy.
Key residential zones such as Shadipur, Delanipur, South Point Wireless, and especially Junglighat are among the worst affected. Once regarded as orderly and functional neighbourhoods supporting the administrative workforce, these areas now host a growing number of deteriorated and uninhabitable buildings, referred to locally as “ghost houses.”
The crisis has been building slowly. Several quarters were structurally damaged during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, following which they were declared unfit for occupation. However, while disaster relief and reconstruction efforts were undertaken in other sectors, these government quarters saw minimal follow-up. What began as a temporary closure has, over the years, turned into a long-term abandonment.
Junglighat offers a striking example. Once a model residential colony with children’s parks, open spaces, and tree-lined lanes, it has steadily slipped into ruin. Today, broken internal roads, collapsed boundary walls, and exposed wiring paint a picture far removed from its past. According to long-time residents, what was once a bustling and tight-knit community has slowly emptied, with families forced to relocate due to unsafe living conditions.
A resident who still lives in one of the older blocks described the reality: “During rains, the water leaks through the roof. The drainage system has collapsed in several places, and repair requests are either ignored or endlessly delayed.” Another added, “These used to be some of the best places to live in the city. Now, they feel forgotten.”
According to a government source familiar with the matter, the scale of neglect is directly tied to budgetary gaps. “There is no dedicated maintenance plan. Most of the funds are consumed by labour and supervisory charges, leaving little room for actual structural repair,” the official said, requesting anonymity. This lack of targeted funding, they added, has led to years of deferred repairs and piecemeal maintenance that fails to address core structural issues.
The housing shortage for public employees is becoming increasingly acute. With many of these quarters uninhabitable and no new government housing schemes implemented in the past decade, employees are being pushed to seek accommodation in the private market. For junior and mid-level staff, this often means relocating to the city’s outskirts or compromising on affordability.
Despite multiple representations made by resident welfare associations and internal memos circulated within departments, the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and Housing & Estate Section have yet to undertake any large-scale restoration work. Attempts by The Wave Andaman to obtain official responses from both departments have gone unanswered.
According to experts, the growing number of abandoned buildings also poses a public safety risk. Locals report cases of anti-social activity and stray animal infestations in unused quarters, especially during the monsoon months when visibility is low and access is poor.
Urban development experts argue that beyond immediate repairs, a long-term housing renewal strategy is required. “This is not just about fixing broken windows and leaky pipes,” one planner noted. “It’s about reclaiming usable public housing, reinvesting in infrastructure, and restoring dignity to people who serve the system.”
As Sri Vijaya Puram continues to grow, the inability to maintain basic government infrastructure sends a troubling message. For now, the abandoned quarters stand as a quiet testimony to promises unkept and a system that has allowed its foundations to erode.
