The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has raised urgent concerns over the deteriorating state of road infrastructure across the Islands, citing severe traffic congestion in Sri Vijaya Puram and the unsafe condition of National Highway-4 (NH-4) as critical issues affecting residents, commuters, and tourists.
TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of ANTCC, has called for immediate administrative intervention to address the worsening conditions. In a series of letters addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, he highlighted two pressing concerns: the urban congestion on key stretches of Sri Vijaya Puram roads and the prolonged neglect and decay of NH-4 connecting Baratang to Diglipur.
According to Bhasker, the stretch from Dairy Farm Junction to Garacharma has become a major bottleneck, particularly during peak hours, causing long traffic jams and delays. The arterial road linking the airport to Garacharma is used daily by thousands of residents and visitors, including tourists, and is critical for timely access to hospitals and the airport. Bhasker urged the administration to construct a flyover from the Airport Departure Gate to Garacharma, alongside immediate road widening along the airport boundary. He stressed that such measures are essential to ease congestion, improve urban mobility, and safeguard commuters.
Highlighting historical neglect, Bhasker noted that the last major road widening project in Sri Vijaya Puram was carried out nearly three decades ago during the tenure of former Lt. Governor Vakkom Purushothaman between 1993 and 1996. Since then, urban road infrastructure has remained largely untouched, leading to deteriorated surfaces and unsafe conditions. The monsoon has further aggravated the situation, creating potholes that endanger vehicles ranging from school transport to emergency ambulances.
In parallel, Bhasker expressed serious concern over NH-4, describing the highway as a “nightmare” for commuters and a “fraud on the people of the Islands.” Despite ongoing works since 2017 under the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), large portions of NH-4 remain unfinished or severely damaged. Sections between Baratang and Rangat, and Billiground to Mayabunder, are yet to be completed, while even nominally completed stretches from Mayabunder to Diglipur have deteriorated significantly, leaving minimal usable areas.
The poor state of NH-4 has disrupted daily routines for residents in Middle and North Andaman. Commuters face delays, while hotels and tourism operators have suffered financial losses due to reduced visitor traffic. Auto drivers and transport operators report declining earnings, and the rising cost of transport has contributed to an overall increase in the cost of living. Bhasker also highlighted the safety risks for medical emergencies, citing instances where ambulances struggled to navigate damaged stretches, putting patients’ lives at risk, including pregnant women and critically ill individuals.
Bhasker called for direct intervention by the Lt. Governor, urging immediate flyover construction, road widening, and repairs in Sri Vijaya Puram, as well as accelerated completion and maintenance of NH-4. He demanded accountability from NHIDCL, including blacklisting the agency from future projects, and proposed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to identify those responsible for alleged misuse of public funds and prolonged project delays.
The ANTCC emphasized that the deteriorating road conditions not only affect commuter safety but also have broader socio-economic implications. Businesses reliant on transport and tourism face operational challenges, residents endure disrupted access to essential services, and economic activity along both urban and highway routes has been hampered. The combined effect of Sri Vijaya Puram congestion and NH-4 decay underscores the need for coordinated administrative action and infrastructure planning across the Islands.
Urban planners and transportation experts point out that Sri Vijaya Puram’s critical routes require urgent upgrades to meet increasing population density and tourism demands. Without structural improvements such as flyovers and road widening, traffic congestion will worsen, travel times will increase, and emergency response services will continue to be compromised. Similarly, NH-4 is vital for connectivity across Middle and North Andaman, supporting both local economies and essential services. Failure to repair and complete the highway poses ongoing risks to lives and livelihoods.
The appeal from ANTCC also highlights the long-term consequences of infrastructure neglect. Delayed projects, decayed roads, and unsafe urban routes discourage tourism, limit commercial transport, and place a financial burden on residents. Additionally, public trust in the responsible agencies and local administration is eroded when repeated appeals for repairs go unheeded. Bhasker’s letters underscore the need for transparency, timely project execution, and accountability measures to restore confidence in the Islands’ road networks.
By calling for immediate repairs, flyover construction, road widening, and a CBI investigation, the ANTCC aims to address decades of neglect and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient mobility across the Islands. Authorities have been urged to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration, reduce commuter distress, and safeguard the economic and social well-being of residents and visitors alike.
The combined focus on Sri Vijaya Puram’s urban congestion and NH-4’s highway decay paints a stark picture of the infrastructure challenges facing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With growing population pressures, increasing tourist traffic, and critical reliance on road connectivity for medical, commercial, and daily commuting purposes, immediate and coordinated action is deemed essential to avert further public hardship and economic disruption.
