John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, July 03: The deteriorating road network in the popular tourist destination Shaheed Dweep has ignited public outrage. Reports indicate that the roads connecting various hamlets in Shaheed Dweep ( Erstwhile Neil Island) have been in a state of disrepair for several years. Despite the completion of the tender process by the APWD for the Baratpur, Neil Kendra, and Sitapur roads, spanning approximately 7 kilometers, the work has not yet commenced. Additionally, the village roads under the Zilla Parishad are also in poor condition. According to residents of Shaheed Dweep in some roads, there are hundreds of potholes, while in some road stretches the top road layer is completely missing.
Mr. Narayan Das, the representative for ward number two in Laxmanpur, lamented the lack of attention from the local administration regarding the persisting problem that has plagued the villagers for years. He expressed concern over the frequent breakdowns of tourist vehicles and the occurrence of road accidents due to the substandard road surfaces. “These issues have become a recurring phenomenon,” he added.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Sukumar Das, former Zilla Parishad member of Shaheed Dweep, echoed these concerns and urged the administration and the Zilla Parishad department to find a permanent solution. He emphasized the immediate need for the APWD to commence road repairs. Mr. Sukumar Das revealed that the Shaheed Dweep Panchayat and tourism association have tirelessly raised the issue with the administration, including high-ranking officials, yet their pleas for road repairs and maintenance have yielded no results.
However, residents of Shaheed Dweep remain hopeful that the APWD will initiate the road repair works and complete them before the upcoming tourist season, ensuring safer and more convenient travel for all.
