Port Blair: Daily traffic snarls along the busy Dairy Farm–Garacharma stretch have once again come under the spotlight, with senior Congress leader G. Bhasker urging the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to take up construction of a flyover on the congested route as a priority infrastructure project. Raising concern over worsening traffic congestion and growing public inconvenience, G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has appealed to the Administration for immediate intervention to ease pressure on one of the busiest road corridors in South Andaman.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, Bhasker stated that the road stretch from Dairy Farm Junction to Garacharma has become a major bottleneck due to the sharp increase in vehicular movement over the years. According to him, the route is heavily used by office-goers, school students, commercial vehicles and emergency services on a daily basis.
He pointed out that traffic congestion on the stretch has now become a routine problem, resulting in delays, inconvenience and increasing safety concerns for commuters.
Highlighting the impact on emergency healthcare services, Bhasker noted that the District Hospital at Garacharma is situated along the same route, and ambulances often struggle to move through traffic during critical situations. He observed that the presence of road dividers leaves little room for overtaking, further aggravating delays during medical emergencies. The Congress leader also blamed unauthorized parking of vehicles along both sides of the road for worsening the congestion. He stated that indiscriminate parking by two-wheelers and four-wheelers significantly narrows the available carriageway, increases accident risks and creates serious public safety concerns.
Apart from demanding construction of the proposed flyover, Bhasker urged the Administration to explore additional infrastructure measures, including alternate connecting routes between Dairy Farm, Bathubasti and Garacharma to reduce traffic pressure on the existing corridor. He further drew attention to persistent congestion on the Dollygunj Junction–Bathubasti stretch, alleging that roadside encroachments and hawkers occupying both sides of the road were severely affecting traffic flow. He called for removal of encroachments and widening of roads to improve movement of vehicles. Bhasker also suggested that the Administration coordinate with the Airports Authority of India for allocation of additional land near the airport area to facilitate future road widening projects.
Describing the situation as a growing urban infrastructure challenge, Bhasker urged the Administration to treat the proposed Dairy Farm–Garacharma flyover as a priority project aimed at providing long-term relief to thousands of daily commuters facing mounting traffic congestion.
