Rabindranath Biswas
Harinagar, March 18: The ambitious National Highway (NH-4) expansion project, once seen as a beacon of connectivity for the region, has turned into a daily nightmare for the residents and shopkeepers of Harinagar area. For several weeks, a thick, relentless shroud of dust from the ongoing construction has crippled local businesses and sparked a growing public health alarm.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Harinagar Shri Manojit Halder said that the worst affected are the local traders whose storefronts line the construction route. From grocery stores to textile shops, owners report that their merchandise is being ruined by a fine layer of grit that settles within minutes of cleaning, the Pradhan said.
According to Mr. Halder the footfall has severely dropped in business establishments as claimed by local shopkeepers. Customers don’t want to stand in a dust bowl to shop, and the shop owners are reportedly spending more time dusting the shelves than serving clients; it’s a slow death for their livelihoods, the Pradhan decried.
Further he stated that the residents, general public, shopkeepers, school students, patients, and commuters passing through the said stretch have been reportedly facing the situation since 2014. Since then, the Panchayat and other organizations have been reportedly continuously raising the issue of the pathetic condition of NH-4 and the slow pace of work with the concerned contractor and authorities; however, the situation has remained reportedly unchanged since the commencement of the rehabilitation work of NH-4 in North & Middle Andaman, and it has now become a major health and environmental concern for all, the Pradhan lambasted.
Crippled by the worsening condition of NH-4, the Billiground Bazar Committee reportedly kept all shops closed with effect from 17-03-2026 and would reportedly continue to keep their shops shut until the concerned authority takes effective steps to resolve the issue by repairing the NH road with bituminous concrete. Today marks the second day of closure and the village, the Pradhan informed.
Residents are equally distressed. With the air quality plummeting, families report an uptick in respiratory issues, particularly among children and the elderly. Windows remain permanently sealed, yet the dust finds its way into kitchens and bedrooms, making “breathable air” a luxury of the past, the Pradhan maintained.
Taking note of the escalating crisis, local leader Mr. Halder has stepped to the forefront of the protest. Today he met the Deputy Commissioner (DC), N & M Andaman, Mayabunder to formally apprise him of the deteriorating conditions.
“Progress should not come at the cost of the people’s health,” Mr. Halder stated during the meeting. “The executing agencies are flouting environmental norms. There is zero water sprinkling on the debris, and the lack of green barriers is inexcusable”, he added.
Beyond the meeting with the DC, the local leader has also reportedly dispatched urgent formal letters to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram and the General Manager, NH-4 Division, Mayabunder N & M Andaman demanding immediate intervention and a stricter adherence to dust-mitigation protocols.
The Deputy Commissioner has reportedly assured the Pradhan that he will look into the matter and take up the matter with NH-4 authorities and ensure that necessary steps are taken at the earliest to address the problem and restore normalcy in the area.
As the construction continues, the people of the region are left waiting for more than just a road; they are waiting for the air to clear.
