Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram): The entire construction of National Highway-4 (NH-4) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is expected to be completed by March 2027, while the much-awaited second bridge across the Middle Strait at Baratang is likely to be ready by mid-2028, subject to timely availability of critical construction material, particularly bitumen, according to the Executive Director of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Prabhat Kumar Singh at Port Blair. This was for the third time in a year that NHIDCL has recheduled to complete construction of the premier road connectivity in the archipelago.
Quoting the NHIDCL Executive Director consequent upon his meeting with Singh,
State President of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dr Arun Kumar Mallick informed that NHIDCL), Port Blair official has expressed his commitment to the schedule for completion of the construction works in Andaman Islands.
In a letter addressed to South Andaman Deputy Commissioner Purva Garg, Dr Mallik sought a follow-up on the technical comments and Action Taken Report (ATR) furnished by NHIDCL on his earlier representations concerning overloaded commercial goods vehicles and protection of NH-4 assets. He said NHIDCL’s technical experts had found several measures feasible for immediate implementation, including strict enforcement against overloaded commercial vehicles, mandatory use of the Mile Tilak weighbridge and continued enforcement of the 12-tonne maximum truck-load restriction on vehicle ferries. He also urged the Administration to re-verify the operational, legal and calibration status of the Mile Tilak weighbridge and make its use mandatory for every commercial goods vehicle travelling on NH-4.
Seeking relief for the movement of essential commodities, particularly fresh vegetables, he called for exemption of weighbridge user fees for commercial vehicles carrying fresh produce. However, the larger concern raised in the communication is the need for additional strategic weighbridges along NH-4. Dr Mallik proposed feasibility studies for new facilities at key transit hubs, including Garacharama/Port Blair, Nimbutala/Rangat, Tugapur/Mayabunder and Sitanagar/Diglipur. He suggested that such facilities could be developed either through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model or an EPC project through NHIDCL, in consultation with truck and cargo associations and relevant departments.
The AAP leader’s disclosure on the NH-4 and Middle Strait bridge timelines assumes significance as the highway remains the principal road lifeline connecting the island’s major population centres. The second Middle Strait bridge, in particular, is expected to provide a major boost to road connectivity and reduce dependence on the existing ferry-based crossing.nAt the same time, the reported shortage/delayed availability of bitumen presents a potential risk to the construction schedule. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of critical materials will therefore be crucial if the March 2027 and mid-2028 targets are to be achieved.
Dr Mallik has sought the intervention of the South Andaman administration for coordinated follow-up with NHIDCL, STS, Shipping Services, the Port Management Board and other stakeholders to ensure that the technical recommendations are translated into concrete action.nHe said he and a few AAP members would also meet the Deputy Commissioner to discuss the issues in detail.
