Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 8: Congress MP and AICC in-charge for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Manickam Tagore, has raised serious concerns about the poor condition of National Highway-4 (NH-4) during his recent two-day visit to South Andaman. He stated that issues of mismanagement and corruption in the project’s execution will be raised during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
“There are multiple loopholes and irregularities. Even a bridge constructed under the project had to be redone. The entire initiative reeks of mismanagement and corruption,” Mr. Tagore observed.
National Highway 4, also known as the Andaman Trunk Road, is a vital 230.7-km stretch connecting Port Blair to Diglipur via major towns like Baratang and Mayabunder. The highway’s upgradation was sanctioned in 2014 but actual work began somewhere in 2016.
Despite its strategic importance for transportation of goods, emergency healthcare, and tourism, the highway remains in a poor state, especially between Baratang and Mayabunder. Travelers frequently report potholes, uneven road surfaces, and the yet-incomplete Middle Strait bridge.
Monsoon-related damages, prolonged delays, and weak implementation have turned the road into a hazard, severely affecting both daily commuters and tourism in the region.
Mr. Tagore added that he will write a detailed letter to BJP National President J.P. Nadda addressing not only NH-4 issues but also the overall healthcare infrastructure challenges in the Islands.
