Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 7: The National Highway (NH-4) construction and bridge works in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have come to a standstill in one stretch of Middle Andaman as over 60 workers of RKEC Company have gone on strike, protesting against non-payment of wages for the past three months. The ongoing strike has severely disrupted construction activities across key stretches of the highway.
According to the striking workers, the last partial payment was made on June 9, but since then, repeated delays have left them struggling to make ends meet. They have announced plans to submit written complaints collectively to the concerned authorities starting tomorrow, demanding immediate redressal.
“The situation has become unbearable. Families are finding it hard to manage even basic food and living expenses,” said one aggrieved worker, speaking on condition of anonymity. He further alleged that although deductions for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) are regularly made from their wages, the contributions are not being deposited into their accounts.
Beyond wage arrears, the workers have also raised concerns over discrimination and inequality. Local workers claim they are paid between ₹21,600 and ₹23,000 per month, while mainland workers receive around ₹28,000 along with a six-month travel allowance. “Despite doing the same work, we are paid less and receive no additional benefits,” one of the local workers said, adding that locals are often sidelined from assignments.
The strike has halted work along a critical section of NH-4, stretching from Rangat Water Tank to 15 Number Gate in Middle Andaman. Out of nearly 100 workers at the site, more than 60—including drivers and site supervisors—have joined the protest.
With highway construction stalled, the project’s timelines and regional connectivity goals are expected to face significant delays unless the dispute is resolved quickly.
