John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 15: Commuters of NH4 (ATR) are grappling with the daunting challenges posed by an ATR stretch of Baratang, which is currently one of the most treacherous road sections. Unfortunately, the completion of the ATR road upgrade project in this area remains uncertain, primarily due to forest restrictions.
Recent heavy rains have exacerbated the situation, triggering landslides and mudslides at multiple locations along the 17-kilometer national highway road in Baratang’s Middle Andaman region. The road connecting to the Kadamtala Bridge has also suffered damage from these landslides.
It is worth noting that the recent heavy rainfall in several Baratang areas has caused extensive road damage in multiple places. These cracks in the road have developed over the past couple of years, and during the monsoon season, they become particularly hazardous due to the slopes on the other side, which can soften the soil at these crack locations.
The Baratang Stretch of ATR encompasses a total of 22 kilometers of road, extending from Nilambur Jetty to Gandhi Ghat Jetty. Out of this length, 15 kilometers of the road are situated within forested areas, while only 7 kilometers fall under revenue jurisdiction.
Mrs. Sarla Krishnan, Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat Sundergarh, expressed concern, stating that they have been urging relevant authorities, including the administration, for several years to address the issue. She emphasized that the absence of retaining walls against the slope areas has led to numerous instances of road sliding. Given the daily movement of hundreds of heavy vehicles on the ATR road, even small landslides pose a serious risk of accidents. She appealed to the Andaman administration to urgently intervene and resolve the matter.
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