Ganesh & John Wilbert
Port Blair, Dec 06: Troubled by the pathetic road condition of Andaman Trunk Road in Baratang area of Middle Andaman, a group of local residents today organized a peaceful agitation at Naya Dera area of Baratang Island.
Nearly 35 people gathered at Nayadera area today and the agitating people were led by Mr. Biju Gurudasan, former pradhan of Sundergarh Panchayat, Baratang and Mr. G Kurma Rao, former, Up-adhyaksh of Zilla Parishad, A & N Islands.
The agitating people complained that since last several months despite giving assurances the NHIDCL did not carry-out any road repair works at Baratang region, making the ATR stretch of Baratang, one of the worst road stretches of entire Andaman Trunk Road.
ATR commuters, especially Baratang residents, who are daily using the said road, are worst sufferers because of worst shape of ATR in this region.
“Since morning we have only blocked movement of vehicles of NHIDCL as a mark of protest while all other vehicles were allowed to go,” said Mr. Biju Gurudasan.
It is learnt that later senior staffs of concerned contractor of NHIDCL and officials of NHIDCL assured to mobilize machineries for road repair at Baratang by today evening and to start the road repair work from tomorrow, the agitation was withdrawn.
“We have got assurances from Mr. Abhishek Yadav of Mantena Vasishta, NH Contractor and also from Mr. Arun Singh, Assistant Engineer of NHIDCL that the road repair works at Baratang will start from tomorrow,” informed Mr. G Kurma Rao, former Up-adhyaksh of Zilla Parishad, A & N Islands.
However, he also added that if the works for repair of ATR do not start as per the assurances, more such agitations will be organized at Baratang Islands by the General Public.
