Port Blair, Oct 25: CPI (M) has demanded investigation through Anti Corruption Branch of CBI into the renovation work of National Highway 4 and construction of bridge at Middle Strait in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. CPI (M) has further demanded to take immediate steps to make the NH4 in the Middle Andaman District at least in motorable condition so that sufferings of thousands of people using the road can be minimized to a great extent.
In a letter sent to
Shri Nithin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of
India, New Delhi, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising
Committee drew his attention to the dreadful and dismal condition of National
Highway 4 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the road was
re-constructed/re-laid by the NHIDCL in the recent past.
CPI (M) Secretary
stated in the letter that the re-construction/re-laying work of the National
Highway 4 (previously known as Andaman Trunk Road) which connects the two
districts of South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman was handed over to
the NHIDCL sometime during 2016. The agency was chosen by the Govt. of India
disregarding the claims of the Andaman PWD to carry out the said work.
Ayyappan brought to
the notice of the Minister that the construction of the said Andaman Trunk Road
was undertaken initially by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) during early
1980 and the same was completed with great difficulty during mid-1990s as it
had to be carried out through dense forest which is habitat of aboriginal
tribes of Jarawas, then hostile to us. After completion, the BRO had handed
over the road to APWD which continued to maintain it though in an
unsatisfactory manner till it was finally handed over to NHIDCL.
The NHIDCL carried out
the re-construction/re-laying work in a phased manner from Chidiyatappu in
South Andaman District to Aerial Bay in North Andaman during the last 7 years
and the entire stretch of the work was said to have been completed. Out of the
two bridges connecting the Nallahs, one bridge connecting Kadamtala to Baratang
has been completed while the construction of the other bridge connecting Middle
Strait to Nilambur (Baratang) is held up due to the reason known only to the
NHIDCL.
CPI (M) Secretary
informed the Minister that the re-constructed/re-laid portion of road in most
parts of the North and Middle Andaman District is in a deplorable condition,
unsuitable for vehicular movement. The large stretch of the NH 4 in several
parts of the said District is in a shamble and it cannot be called as a road at
all in several parts of the Middle and North Andaman.
The NHIDCL had handed
over the renovation work of the NH4 to certain selected contractors from
mainland. CPI (M) Secretary told the Minister that the work undertaken by them
was not in accordance with the stipulated standard because of which the
renovated road became unsuitable for motorable use. Ayyappan told the Minister
that at many of the areas no road exists even for name sake and complained that
NHIDCL and the government utterly failed to ensure proper renovation of the NH4
through the contractor. Explaining the condition of NH4, CPI (M) Secretary told
the Minister that it has become dangerous to travel through the NH4 as the vehicles
can involve in accidents. IOC has expressed its inability to send their fuel
carrying tankers to North and Middle Andaman unless the NH4 is made motorable.
Private bus operators refuse to operate long-route bus service in the said
District. Teachers and students are facing difficulties to reach the school
through this road. Other government employees and workers are also facing great
difficulty to commute between their houses and duty places. Evidently, there
appears criminal negligence on the part of NHIDCL and contractors who carried
out the renovation/re-laying work.
CPI (M) Secretary
stated in the letter that there is widespread discontentment among the people
of the North and Middle Andaman District. Road blockade by students,
Panchayat-raj Institution members, cutting across party lines, and general
public has become the order of the day in the above district.
CPI (M) Secretary
further stated in the letter that the work of construction of bridge connecting
the Middle Strait in South Andaman and Nilambur in Baratang Island along the
NH4 was handed over to a contractor by the NHIDCL about 3 - 4 years ago, but
the construction work of the bridge came to a standstill suddenly after it was
started. CPI (M) informed the Minister of Road Transport & Highways that it
was alleged in the media that the award of the contract and payment for the
portion of work done by the contractor were suspicious and the government had
lost a huge amount on this work, which also needs thorough investigation.
He further informed the Minister that under the above-said circumstances, the Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee of the CPI (M) in its meeting held recently has decided to demand a CBI investigation into the entire gamut of the renovation work of National Highway 4 and construction work of Bridge at Middle Strait in order to bring the corrupt officials, politicians and contractors involved in the above work to book which will instill a sense of confidence among the people of these islands, a communication said.
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