Abhishek & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 4: The Zilla Parishad Member of Kadamtala and former Chairperson of the North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. Subrata Basu, has expressed serious concern over what he described as poor planning and execution of National Highway-4 (NH4) works in the Kadamtala area. He alleged that defective drainage construction, damaged drain slabs, unsafe road junctions and improper disposal of construction debris have created hardships for residents and pose a significant risk to commuters.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Basu said that the stretch between Uttara Jetty and Check Post No. 3 has several drainage structures that are either damaged or improperly designed. According to him, while some drain slabs are strong, many are broken, posing a danger to pedestrians and motorists. He further pointed out that in several places the drain level is higher than the road, while elsewhere it is lower, making the area uneven and hazardous.
He alleged that the construction of concrete drains has obstructed the natural drainage system that earlier carried rainwater away through earthen channels. As a result, water is reportedly flowing into agricultural fields and orchards, damaging crops and affecting the livelihood of farmers. Mr. Basu claimed that there are numerous such cases in the area. He also stated that drainage water from the market is being diverted towards roads leading to the Anganwadi Centre, Zilla Parishad Hall, playground and nearby government quarters, creating additional problems.
Mr. Basu further alleged that trees cut during the highway work have been left piled along the roadside instead of being removed. He warned that these heaps could become a safety hazard and lead to serious accidents if not cleared immediately.
Another major issue highlighted by Mr. Basu was the difference in height between the newly elevated National Highway and the village roads connected to it. He claimed that the original project plan had provisions to address this level difference at junctions, but the work was allegedly left incomplete. As a result, residents are reportedly finding it difficult to enter village roads using two-wheelers and four-wheelers, particularly near Hari Mandir, Shiv Mandir, the Guest House area and roads leading to the Zilla Parishad Hall and Anganwadi.
He also questioned why certain stretches of road had reportedly been retendered and reconstructed while basic local infrastructure such as drains, ramps for houses and proper village road connectivity had not been addressed. He expressed concern that once blacktopping is completed, it would become even more difficult to remove construction waste lying along the roadside.
Referring to the beautification works in Kadamtala Bazaar, Mr. Basu alleged that the existing old drains had been left untouched and were already showing signs of damage. He warned that the drainage system could lead to severe waterlogging during market days and claimed that even bypass drains constructed later had failed to resolve the issue.
Mr. Basu said repeated representations to the concerned National Highway authorities had yielded no response. He added that public concern over the issue is steadily growing and warned that if corrective measures are not taken soon, local residents may be compelled to launch a public agitation.
