Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 28: MP Bishnu Pada Ray urges centre for urgent sanction of funds and construction of additional bridge at Chatham Causeway – Arrange lightweight battery-operated transport facilities for commuters between Chatham Jetty and PS Chatham Check-post, Haddo until the bridge is operational.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has made an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah, Minister of Road Transport & Highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari, and Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, along with the Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary of A&N Islands, seeking immediate sanction of funds and early commencement of construction of an additional bridge at Chatham Causeway, which has now become a matter of public urgency and strategic importance.
In his letter dated 26.08.2025, he stated that the Chatham Causeway, constructed in 1970 by ALHW, serves as the only road link between Mr. Vijayapuram (erstwhile Port Blair) and Chatham Island. It is home to vital establishments like the Government Saw Mill and Power House, where over 1,000 employees are engaged in daily operations. The causeway is also critical for the transportation of goods, raw materials, machinery, fuel and essential equipment, and serves as a lifeline for thousands of commuters. Furthermore, since the Chatham Jetty is a vital embarkation point for ferry services to Bambooflat, the causeway has, over the decades, become a lifeline for thousands of daily commuters including government officials, students, patients, traders and the general public.
Mr. Ray also further emphasizes in his written letter, over the past decade, the condition of the bridge has deteriorated severely. Despite repeated representations and the Ministry of Shipping’s instructions in 2016 for UT Administration to take action, no steps were initiated, leading to the present crisis. In June 2025, based on the UT Administration’s requisition, IIT Madras inspected the bridge and reported that the structure is damaged beyond repair and cannot be retrofitted, recommending the construction of a new bridge. Following this, vehicular traffic over the causeway has been suspended since June 2025, with movement restricted to pedestrians and two-wheelers only, to avoid catastrophic failure.
The NHIDCL has now been tasked with preparing a feasibility study and DPR. However, Mr. Ray said that the process is time-consuming and delays in sanctioning funds could jeopardize the safety, mobility, and livelihood of the islanders.
Highlighting the plight of the people, MP Mr. Ray said “Senior citizens, Divyangjans, school children, patients, and daily commuters are compelled to walk nearly 1 km from Chatham jetty via across the damaged stretch to reach the Haddo –Chatham PS Check Post, often carrying luggage and essentials. Earlier, all categories of vehicles including buses, autos, cars and trucks were able to reach Chatham Jetty for boarding/de-boarding. Now, in the absence of alternative arrangements, people are suffering extreme hardship.
Therefore, Mr. Ray, MP, has urged the centre for the following urgent measures:
1. Direct NHIDCL to complete the feasibility study and submit the DPR in a strict time-bound manner.
2. Earmark and sanction the required funds immediately and accord Administrative Approval & Expenditure Sanction (AA & ES) for construction of an additional bridge between Chatham Island and PS Chatham, Haddo, treating it as a special case of public urgency.
3. Direct the UT Administration to immediately arrange lightweight battery-operated transport facilities, keeping in view of safety and security for commuters between Chatham Jetty and PS Chatham Check-post, Haddo, until either a temporary bridge (as recommended by IIT Madras) or the new bridge is made operational.
Calling this a matter of both strategic significance and humanitarian importance, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray MP has appealed for the personal intervention of the Prime Minister and concerned Ministries to ensure timely sanction and commencement of construction of the additional bridge at Chatham Causeway without further delay.
