Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 October 2023
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands held a one-day hunger strike today in Rangat. Despite the heavy rain, the protest garnered widespread support from thousands of Islanders, including ATR commuters, the general public, various associations, PRI members, elected representatives, shopkeepers etc., who braved the inclement weather to join him.
Addressing the gathered crowd, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma highlighted his long-standing efforts to address the deplorable state of National Highway 4 (NH4). He revealed that since 2021, he had tirelessly raised this issue with both the local administration and the relevant ministry, but the situation had shown no signs of improvement. Consequently, he decided to stage this hunger strike as a last resort, with a warning of more decisive actions in the future if needed.
Prominent citizens of North and Middle Andaman, PRI members, and public leaders expressed their anger against the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for the delay in completing NH4 upgradation work.
Responding to the passionate plea, officials from NHIDCL pledged to expedite the pending NH4 upgradation, citing several factors such as delays in obtaining forest clearance, restrictions on stone boulder extraction, disruptions caused by COVID-19, material shortages, and contractor performance as reasons for the delays.
To tackle these challenges, NHIDCL announced a multi-pronged strategy:
a) Middle Strait Creek Bridge: The EPC contract with M/s Mantena Vasishta Bridge JV has been terminated due to poor performance. Bids for the remaining work on the project will be accepted until October 19, 2023.
b) Package-III between Baratang to Rangat Section: A decision regarding the foreclosure of this section is pending and will be decided during a reconciliation meeting. Simultaneously, assessments of the project’s status are ongoing, with bids for the remaining work expected in the first week of October. To expedite the process, NHIDCL plans to divide the project into two parts and reduce the bid submission period from 45 to 30 days.
NHIDCL has initiated urgent repair work to address potholes and damaged sections, ensuring the road’s safety during the rainy season. A separate contractor will be appointed under the Maintenance & Repair (MER) category for extensive repairs until the EPC contractor can commence permanent road construction.
c) Package-IV between Swadesh Nagar to Austin Creek Bridge: A 12 km stretch within a reserve forest area awaits clearance. EPC Contractor M/s Vasishta Construction Pvt. Ltd. has committed to finishing the work before March 31, 2024.
d) Package-II Between Austin Creek to Kalara Junction: The EPC contractor has completed 86% of the project’s roadwork up to the bituminous layer and is committed to concluding the remaining work within two months of the end of the rainy season.
e) Package-VIII from Kalara Junction to Lamiya Bay: Half of the project’s work is completed, and the EPC contractor is ensuring the road’s traffic-worthiness in this stretch.
The hunger strike by the Member of Parliament has drawn much-needed attention to the dire state of NH4. With NHIDCL’s assurance of swift action, hopes are high for a brighter, smoother road ahead for the islands’ residents.