Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 21 December 2023
In response to concerns voiced by Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, regarding the construction of a crucial bridge linking Chatham Island and Bambooflat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari provided an update on the project’s status during the Lok Sabha Debates.
Acknowledging Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma’s representation under Rule 377, Gadkari addressed the subject of the proposed 4.3 km bridge, inclusive of approaches, aimed at linking Chatham Island and Bambooflat Island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
According to Gadkari’s statement, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the bridge had been submitted by consultant M/s VKS Infratech Management Pvt. Ltd in February 2023. Following this submission, a committee of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) reviewed the DPR, highlighting certain technical and pre-construction activity-related observations. These points were subsequently deliberated upon with officials of the Union Territory administration, leading to envisaged changes in the DPR.
Gadkari emphasised that the DPR consultant is currently engaged in revising the report based on the outlined observations. The revised DPR is pending submission. Gadkari reassured Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma that NHIDCL is taking necessary steps to expedite the finalisation of the DPR.