Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, June 14: Residents of North and Middle Andaman have called for regular visits by senior IAS officers, particularly those holding Secretary-level positions, to the district through the Andaman Trunk Road (NH-4), stating that such visits would help officials better understand the challenges faced by the common people and ensure faster resolution of long-pending issues.
While the poor condition of NH-4 frequently attracts public attention and media coverage, residents point out that several other critical issues affecting daily life in North and Middle Andaman continue to remain unaddressed. These include pending bridge projects, damaged bridges, the poor condition of village roads, recurring power supply problems, inadequate maintenance of government guest houses, and the lack of sufficient public toilet facilities along NH-4, among many other concerns.
According to local residents, many of these problems do not require years of planning or large-scale investments and could be resolved within weeks if adequate attention is given by the concerned authorities.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, a PRI member, who requested anonymity, said that regular field visits by senior officers would significantly improve governance and accelerate development works in the district.
“Many of the issues being faced by people are visible only when officials travel on the ground and interact directly with residents. If Secretary-level officers regularly visit North and Middle Andaman through NH-4, they will be able to experience the difficulties faced by the public firsthand and understand the ground realities,” he said.
The PRI member further stated that such visits would not only help identify pressing problems but also ensure that major projects are monitored effectively and completed within a fixed timeframe.
He added that while the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary, owing to their extensive responsibilities, may not always find time for frequent visits to the district, regular inspections by Secretary-level officers could bring about a significant transformation in North and Middle Andaman.
Residents believe that closer engagement between senior officials and local communities would lead to quicker decision-making, improved accountability, and more effective implementation of development initiatives across the district. They have therefore urged the administration to institutionalize regular field visits by senior officers to better address the needs and aspirations of the people of North and Middle Andaman.
