Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 17: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands has raised an urgent demand for the immediate repair and improvement of the State Highway (SH-11) road, which stretches from Tirur to Tushnabad Junction. The road, approximately 10 kilometers in length, has been in an extremely deteriorated condition, posing severe risks to commuters.
Residents of Tirur, Manpur, Colanpur, Habdipur, Tushnabad, and surrounding villages have repeatedly voiced their concerns over the poor state of this vital roadway. Despite multiple appeals, no substantial maintenance or improvements have been undertaken by the administration for several years. Large potholes make the road nearly unfit for vehicular movement, causing immense difficulties for daily commuters, school-going children, the elderly and pregnant women.
The lack of proper repairs and the use of substandard materials in occasional patchwork has only worsened the situation. Public transport services have been severely disrupted, with private bus operators suspending their services and government-run STS buses frequently breaking down. This has adversely impacted farmers who depend on the road to transport their agricultural produce, the MP stated.
An estimate for repair work was prepared by the APWD a few years ago, but it remains stalled without final approval. The hazardous condition of the road has led to private transporters refusing to operate along the route, causing severe disruptions in the transportation of goods and essential supplies for farmers and local businesses.
Therefore, the MP has urged the Chief Secretary of A&N Administration to intervene in the matter immediately and direct the APWD to undertake urgent repairs of SH-11 to ensure vehicle worthiness.
