Port Blair, April 17: The slow pace of the construction of NH-4 Road from Port Blair to Diglipur and the delay in the construction of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge are causing great concern among the residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to an action taken report sent to Mr. G Bhasker, the Chairman of Campaign Committee, ANTCC, sent by Mr. M K Reddy, Dy. General Manager (P) of RO-Port Blair, NHIDCL, the NH-4 Road construction has been progressing at a very slow pace due to various factors such as poor planning of material, delay in mobilization of resources from the mainland, Covid-19 waves affecting the work for almost two years, and administrative constraints due to prolonged restrictions on the movement of logistics.
There is also a ban on stone quarries to open for public use, which has caused a shortage of stone aggregates. The report also highlights the discrepancy in the RoW handover by the APWD and a delay in the grant of Forest Clearances from the Forest Department as the main reasons for the initial delay in the execution of the work.
Despite these challenges, NHIDCL has been trying to complete all the projects as soon as possible, he claimed.
The RO has recommended the termination of the contract, which is under the purview of the HQ, NHIDCL. Urgent and absolute works pertaining to traffic and motor ability have already been taken by this Regional Office through a local contractor at the Risk & Cost of the defaulting contractor, he added.
Regarding the construction of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge, the Draft DPR has been forwarded to HQ, NHIDCL on 25.02.2023, which is under examination for obtaining sanction from the MORTH. The delay in the construction of the bridge has been a cause of concern for the residents, as it is a crucial link for many areas in the region.
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