Port Blair (Sri Vijay Puram): A rigid zero-tolerance crackdown on cargo vehicles along the battered National Highway 4 is triggering alarm across the islands, with political leaders warning of supply disruptions and soaring living costs for remote communities. In a formal representation addressed to the Chief Secretary, Chairman of the Campaign Committee (ANTCC), G. Bhasker highlighted the mounting distress among commercial drivers following the installation of a weighbridge at Mile Tilak. Drivers are reportedly being slapped with steep penalties for exceeding weight limits by mere kilograms—an uncompromising enforcement measure in a region already grappling with severe logistical bottlenecks.
The crux of the crisis lies in the dilapidated condition of NH-4, the arterial lifeline connecting Port Blair to North and Middle Andaman. Transporters argue that operating strictly within reduced weight capacities on such damaged roads drastically inflates freight costs per kilogram. This economic burden will inevitably spill over to everyday consumers through higher prices for essential groceries and goods, while squeezing the livelihood of local truck operators.
Calling for practical governance over rigid enforcement, the Congress leadership urged the administration to direct the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to repair NH-4 before imposing strict penalties. The letter further demands an immediate multi-stakeholder meeting—convening trade bodies such as the Grain Dealers and Grocers Association and regional Chambers of Commerce—alongside a temporary stay on all punitive actions against cargo drivers until a viable resolution is reached.
