Rohit Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 November 2024
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament (MP) for Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the 18th Lok Sabha, has urged the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, to revive the long-awaited upgradation of six key State Highways to National Highways (NH).
The push for these road upgrades began during Mr. Ray’s earlier tenure in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019), when he successfully secured principal approval for the upgradation of six State Highways in 2017. These roads were seen as crucial for enhancing connectivity and spurring development in the region. In response to his efforts, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had tasked the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) with preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the projects, as outlined in MoRTH’s letter No. NH-14014/187/2015-P&M dated 6th July 2017.
The six State Highways earmarked for NH status include:
– Jetty Hut Bay to RK Pur and VK Pur (Little Andaman) – 22 km (SH-1)
– Havelock Jetty to Ramnagar Beach (Havelock Island) – 11 km (SH-4)
– Govindnagar Junction to Kalapathar (Havelock Island) – 9 km
-Neil Jetty to Sitapur (Shaheed Dweep) – 4 km
– Kalara Junction to Ramnagar (SH-14, Diglipur) – 20 km
– Diglipur Bazaar (NH-4) to Hatilevel (SH-15) – 24.7 km
However, after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, progress on these projects stalled, and the DPRs were not finalised. The delay in advancing these critical infrastructure projects left local residents, who had hoped for improved connectivity and economic growth, disheartened.
To revive these projects, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray met Mr. Nitin Gadkari in Parliament on November 28, 2024. During the meeting, he urged the Minister to renew the proposal for the upgradation of the six roads and directed the A&N Administration to expedite the preparation and submission of the DPRs for early approval and execution.
Mr. Gadkari responded swiftly, instructing the concerned Secretary to fast-track the necessary actions for the implementation of these long-awaited projects.
Mr. Ray highlighted that the completion of the six NH projects would significantly address the region’s infrastructure needs and improve the quality of life for its residents, marking a major milestone for the development of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.