Sri Vijayapuram, December 9: A massive public protest that brought traffic on NH-4 to a complete halt for nearly 14 hours in Rangat concluded late last night after senior officials from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) assured citizens that the long-delayed blacktopping work would begin immediately.
The demonstration, described by residents as the largest ever seen in the North & Middle Andaman region, began early in the morning and continued past midnight. Hundreds of people—including women, elderly citizens, youth, and local leaders—gathered at the site demanding that road construction be resumed without further interruption. Protesters emphasized that the deteriorated road conditions had caused immense daily hardship, delayed medical emergencies, damaged vehicles, and had severely affected local businesses and farmers.
Despite persistent rain forecasts and long waiting hours, the public maintained their stance throughout the day. They insisted that discussions would only take place in the presence of senior officials, clearly stating that the NHIDCL Executive Director must address the protestors directly.
The Deputy Commissioner of North & Middle Andaman, who was supposed to attend the meeting in person, could not do so due to health complications during his return from Diglipur. He later joined through a live video call and acknowledged the public’s concerns, assuring them that necessary steps would be taken immediately.
At approximately 9:15 PM, the Executive Director of NHIDCL reached the protest location along with local administrative officers. The crowd, which had earlier refused to engage with junior representatives, agreed to the discussion once the senior officials confirmed their presence.
During the interaction, NHIDCL officials admitted that the delays in roadwork were primarily due to technical issues at the asphalt plant, including a damaged sensor which had halted the production of premix. They explained that the required replacement parts had arrived recently and the repairs had been completed.
The Executive Director stated that roadwork would recommence the same night, and premix blacktopping would resume within four days. He added that the work would continue daily without interruption except in cases of heavy rainfall. He also assured the protestors that progress would be transparent and regularly shared with the public.
Responding to community demands, the Deputy Commissioner announced the creation of a Technical Inspection and Supervisory Committee. This committee will include government engineers, local administration representatives, and selected members of the public. It will monitor material quality, pace of work, and adherence to project standards. Progress reports, photographs, and videos will be made publicly available across media platforms.
Following nearly three hours of dialogue and after receiving a written commitment from NHIDCL, the protest leaders announced that the blockade would be lifted between 12:00 AM and 1:00 AM. They clarified, however, that this was only a suspension of the agitation. A relay-style peaceful protest will continue over the coming days to ensure that officials remain accountable and that roadwork progresses as promised.
As machinery begins to return to the NH-4 stretch, the public now awaits the visible signs of progress that this historic protest has set in motion.
