Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Jan. 06: The Nabajyoti Sangh Youth Club, Khudirampur, Ward No. 01, under Diglipur Tehsil raised serious concern about the deteriorating condition of a rural road newly constructed in their village.
According to information, the Rural Road No. DGRRR02018, was recently upgraded under the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) scheme by the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD). The project, titled “Upgradation of Rural Road No. DGRRR02018 under SFA at Diglipur Tehsil, North & Middle Andaman (Length: 10.10 km),” was reportedly awarded to a private firm and it was reportedly declared as completed.
However, the youths of the Club raised serious concern as the road in question has already reportedly begun to deteriorate within just fifteen days of completion. The surface is visibly breaking apart, and the construction materials are dislodging, indicating the use of substandard materials and poor workmanship, the youths rued. “This is especially disheartening considering that the project includes a five-year maintenance component with an allocated budget of Rs. 71,42,137/- within a total package of approximately Rupees 15 crores. The current state of the road raises serious doubts about the quality of execution and suggests possible misuse of public funds about the quality of execution and suggests possible misuse of public funds” the youths of Nabajyoti Sangh Youth Club decried.
Given the fragile condition of the road, it is unlikely to withstand even two months of regular vehicular movement, they lamented. The harsh weather conditions of the region will only accelerate its degradation, potentially rendering the road unusable within’ a year, they further argued. This situation has caused significant distress among the residents of Khudirampur, who rely on this road for daily transportation and access to essential services, they added.
Amids this, the youths of Nabajyoti Sangh Youth Club, Khudirampur have reportedly written a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram apprising him of the entire scenario of the road with photos and videos and also with an urge to take immediate cognizance of this matter. They further appealed in the letter for a thorough inspection of the road by a competent technical team to assess the quality of work and materials used. They also reportedly requested the CS to hold the contractor accountable for the substandard execution of the project and to direct them to undertake necessary repair or reconstruction to ensure the road’s durability and public safety.
Andaman Sheekha Daily, on the other hand, tried to establish contact with officials of the CD, APWD, Diglipur to know more on the matter, but the concerned officials were not available on phone for any comment on the present status of the road. The Andaman Sheekha Daily then contacted the Samiti Member of the area Mr. Karupaiah and posed questions to him about the status of the road. Endorsing the concern raised by the youths of the club, the Samiti Member said that the road’s current deteriorating condition coupled with some APWD officials’ statement: “road is perfectly okay” sparked a storm of protest and public outrage, the Samiti Member informed.
