Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 26: The pathetic condition of Andaman Trunk Road from Baratang to Diglipur has hit common man hard. The pathetic road condition has totally paralysed the transportation network of Andaman Group of islands and if nothing is done now soon the entire transportation network of Andaman Trunk Road will collapse.
Already people who used to travel by four wheelers in ATR are now opting for transportation by bus but sadly the number of ATR buses are also decreasing day by day due to regular breakdowns.
Since last few weeks the ATR buses of morning from Diglipur are crossing Middle Strait at 7.30 PM to 8.00 PM, which is enough to understand how bad is the condition of Andaman Trunk Road.
Sadly from the side of Andaman and Nicobar Administration no top official ever bothered to pay a surprise visit to Andaman Trunk Road in Middle Andaman region and take up the matter with NHIDCL.
Public of North and Middle Andaman are fuming on NHIDCL for lack of maintenance works and total negligence which is causing such inconvenience to public.
As per sources, the mechanical wing of the State Transport Service is finding it too difficult to keep the Buses fit for ATR transport of daily basis, despite daily late night repair works. Private bus operators are facing same problem in ATR route.
“If the NHIDCL is unable to work during rainy season what was the necessity for digging entire road stretch before Monsoon. Now one has to drive through knee deep layer of mud to reach the other side of Andaman Trunk Road whenever it is raining. People are not only suffering heavy loss due to frequent breakdown of vehicles but also the entire economy of Andaman Groups of islands has taken a hit,” said Mr. Alagar Swamy, the Zilla Parishad Member of Baratang region.
He said that many other PRI members of North and Middle Andaman are now planning to stage a massive chakka jam against such unprofessional working style of NHIDCL.
He added that during coming Durga Puja and Dweepawali people of North and Middle Andaman will not be able to go to meet relatives or return back to their home because of bad roads and also because of the facts that many buses from ATR has been withdrawn, already. “This is shameful,” he added.
He demanded immediate inspection of the ATR stretch from Baratang to Diglipur and immediate steps to make ATR atleast worthy for safe movement of vehicles.
