John Wilbert & Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, Feb 26: Finally the National Highways Integrated Development Corporation (NHIDCL) has shared the deadline for completing the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) stretch between Ferrargunj and Jirkatang. Till now people travelling through the pathetic road stretch of ATR had no clue that when this misery will end and when they will get smooth road between Ferrargunj and Jirkatang.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, the General Manager Project, NHIDCL, Mr. Dilbagh Singh Dhanda has clarified that the road between Ferrargunj to Jirkatang won’t probably be completed as per the previous deadline which was 31st March 2020 following various issues but he said that NHIDCL will put pressure on the contractor to atleast complete the aforesaid road by April 2020.
“Our MD has told the contractor that they have to complete the road by March 31st, 2020 but the truth is that it won’t be possible by March but pressure has been created and the public can expect a blacktop road between Ferrargunj and Jirkatang before arrival of monsoon,” Mr. Dhanda said.
When Andaman Sheekha asked the General Manager Project about the reason behind the delay, he said that the contractor has taken the tender by quoting very low rate, now when NHIDCL has threatened the contractor about the penalty, the contractor has taken the construction work seriously. “Had the contractor started the work in the month of September- October the work would have been completed in the scheduled time,” Mr Dilbagh Singh Dhanda added.
