Zubair & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 08:A massive public protest in Rangat escalated into a more than 14-hour-long blockade of NH-4 today, with hundreds of residents refusing to clear the road until their demands were met. According to last reports received at 10:00 PM, the protest was still continuing, with agitators still waiting for the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, to arrive at the site and address them.
The protest began early in the morning at around 6.00 AM, with residents of Rangat and nearby areas gathering on the stretch of NH-4 to voice their long-pending grievances regarding the poor condition of the road and the severe delay in the blacktopping work. The blockade quickly led to long queues of vehicles on both sides, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Residents have stated that the condition of the road has become “unbearable,” causing frequent accidents, health issues from dust, and heavy inconvenience to daily commuters. Protesters said they were left with “no option but to come on the streets” after repeated appeals failed to yield any action.
The primary demands of the public include the immediate commencement of the blacktopping work on NH-4, proper and continuous execution of construction activities, and a direct meeting with the Executive Director of NHIDCL.
Throughout the day, several PRI members and local leaders remained present at the protest site, urging the administration to take urgent steps.
Protesters emphasized that they do not want “symbolic” or “temporary” work to begin merely to break the strike. They demanded a full-fledged and sustained start of the blacktopping work to ensure long-term relief for commuters.
As evening approached, tension grew at the site as people insisted they would not withdraw the protest until the authorities arrived at Rangat. The blockade, which had already crossed 14 hours by nightfall, showed no signs of stopping.
As per Andaman Sheekha team, by 10:00 PM, the Executive Director of NHIDCL had reportedly reached the protest site, but the crowd continued to wait for the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, to arrive and address the situation. Further details are awaited.
