Sai & Vikradmaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 9: The residents of Tugapur-8 village in Middle Andaman are facing severe difficulties due to the poor condition of their only access road, which remains an earthen track since its settlement in 1955. With over 150 families and a population exceeding 500, the village continues to suffer as the road becomes unfit for use, particularly during the rainy season.
The 2.6 km stretch, running from Biresh Halder’s house to Suresh Adhikari’s shop, has long been left without blacktopping despite repeated appeals to the Andaman Public Works Department (PWD). While culverts have been built at some points, the road surface itself is muddy and treacherous, leaving villagers cut off and struggling to carry out their daily lives.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, Pahalgaon Pradhan, Mr. Shibanabda Bariragi, voiced his frustration over the neglect. “Children on their way to school must wade through mud every morning, while elderly people and patients face immense hardship. Autos and other vehicles refuse to ply this route. During the rains, it is nearly impossible even to walk on this road,” he said.
Villagers argue that the road is no longer just an inconvenience but a pressing safety issue. In the monsoons, knee-deep mud and waterlogging make travel dangerous, while in the dry season the road becomes a dust-filled hazard. Despite being located close to the main roads on both ends with better infrastructure, Tugapur-8 remains overlooked.
Residents also expressed disappointment that in 2025 they are still forced to rely on a earthen road. “We are not asking for luxury. A blacktop road is a basic necessity,” said one local resident.
The Pradhan has urged the PWD and the A&N Administration to prioritize blacktopping the road at the earliest. “The Panchayat does not have the resources for this scale of work. We appeal to the authorities to take immediate steps to provide a durable, all-weather blacktop road for our villagers,” he added.
