Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 August 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has welcomed the intervention of Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, regarding the slow progress of the National Highway-4 (NH-4) works between Baratang and Shibpur – Diglipur, and the construction of the Bridge between Middle Strait and Baratang.
Responding to concerns raised by Mr. Ray on June 5, 2025, Mr. Gadkari reviewed the matter and communicated the current status, reasons for delays, and revised timelines for the completion of various stretches of the project through a DO letter dated August 21, 2025. The Minister also directed NHIDCL authorities and contractors to strictly adhere to the revised schedules to ensure the safety and convenience of commuters.
Regarding the Baratang Bridge, Mr. Gadkari noted that the previous contract had been terminated on June 6, 2023, due to poor progress. A new contract was awarded on May 7, 2025, and the contractor has fully mobilized at the site with piling works underway. The bridge is now targeted for completion by December 31, 2026. The revised timelines for the NH-4 packages are as follows:
• Baratang Bridge – 31.12.2026
• Package III-A (Baratang to Police Checkpost-15, Adajig, Kadamtala) – 31.03.2026
• Package III-B (Police Checkpost-15, Kadamtala to Rangat Fire Station) – 31.03.2026
• Package IV (Thoratang to Austin-II, Mayabunder) – 31.12.2025
• Package II (Austin-II, Mayabunder to Kalara Junction) – 31.12.2025
• Package VIII (Kalara Junction to Lamya Bay, Diglipur) – 31.12.2025
Mr. Gadkari acknowledged the delays, attributing them to unavoidable circumstances, including an unusually early monsoon in April 2025, and assured that strict instructions have been issued to NHIDCL to complete the works within the revised deadlines.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray recalled that during his tenure in the 16th Lok Sabha, persistent monitoring ensured the timely completion of NH-4 works from Chidiyatapu to Middle Strait, including the Uttara Bridge. However, due to lack of consistent follow-up in the 17th Lok Sabha, construction of the Baratang Bridge and stretches from Baratang to Lamya Bay suffered delays, causing hardship to daily commuters.
At the beginning of the 18th Lok Sabha, Mr. Ray took a keen interest in the matter, bringing it to the attention of Mr. Gadkari, which led to a review meeting at Raj Niwas on December 28, 2024. Following this, timelines were fixed, and stalled works were restarted.
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Ray said, “I sincerely thank Hon’ble Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari for his personal intervention, fixing strict timelines, and directing NHIDCL and concerned officials to expedite the completion of NH-4 stretches and the Baratang Bridge. This will bring much-needed relief to the people of North & Middle Andaman, who have been facing severe hardship due to the deplorable road conditions.”
