When we think of craters, uneven surfaces, and rocky terrain, our minds naturally drift to the Moon’s surface—a place uninhabitable and hostile. But take a stroll through the streets of Port Blair, and you might wonder if some of our city roads were crafted by lunar architects, who perhaps moonlight as engineers for the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD).
The state of city roads in Port Blair is a matter of concern, and if sarcasm could fix potholes, the city would be as smooth as the VIP Road. It’s ironic, really, that the same engineers who shrug their shoulders and blame heavy rains for the deplorable condition of our public roads seem to possess miraculous road-building skills when it comes to areas frequently graced by the wheels of Very Very Important People (VVIPs).
The stretch from Marina Park to the Judges’ Quarters and road from Airport to Raj Niwas are a prime example. Here, the roads are immaculately maintained, as if the rain politely avoids these hallowed grounds. Meanwhile, just a few kilometers away, the common citizen is left navigating potholes large enough to swallow a small car. It begs the question: Do the rains have a special affinity for non-VIP roads, or is it that our APWD engineers have selective expertise?
One could argue that the real experts in road construction are those who worked on the NHIDCL road from Kodiaghat to Ferrargunj. This road, built under similar weather conditions, remains in remarkable shape even after four to five years. Perhaps the APWD engineers should consider a field trip to study this marvel of construction. It seems the NHIDCL knows something about road-building that has eluded the APWD—like how to make a road that lasts more than a single monsoon.
The irony doesn’t stop there. The absence of surprise visits by the Lieutenant Governor or the Chief Secretary to the more ‘ordinary’ parts of Port Blair only adds to the problem. If our leaders stuck to public roads rather than just the VIP routes, they might gain a more realistic perspective on the daily struggles of their citizens. Instead, the APWD continues its double standards, maintaining the roads most likely to be graced by VVIPs while neglecting those that serve the everyday public.
In the end, it’s not just about poor road conditions—it’s about the glaring inequities in how public resources are allocated. The common taxpayer, who funds these roads, deserves better than this lunar landscape. Until then, we can only hope that the APWD engineers develop a newfound respect for all roads in Port Blair, not just the ones that lead to power.
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