Congress Warns of Greater Protest on NH-4 If No Written Assurance by Nov 8; Fetches NH-4 Development Supplies to Ship for Lab Take a look at Over Poor High quality Allegations

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 04 November 2025

The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has strongly criticized the continued development and upkeep work of the National Highway-4 (NH-4), alleging large-scale corruption, use of substandard supplies, and negligence by the authorities. The statements got here throughout a press convention addressed by Mr. T.S.G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of ANTCC, and, Mr. Tamil Selvam, Spokesperson of ANTCC following the Congress-led Chakka Jam protest held at Rangat Bazaar on November 1, 2025.

“Chakka Jam Was a People’s Movement, Not Political” – TSG Bhasker

Addressing the media, Mr. Tamil Selvam thanked the individuals and media for his or her overwhelming participation within the Chakka Jam regardless of heavy rainfall. He mentioned the protest at Rangat was not a spontaneous act however the end result of years of representations, memoranda, and protests by the Congress demanding pressing restore and completion of the NH-4.

“For the past five years, the Congress has consistently raised the NH-4 issue through memoranda to the Lt. Governor, Prime Minister, and Union Ministers. We organized protests at Port Blair, public meetings at Tiranga Park, ‘Raj Niwas Chalo’ marches, and even ‘Jail Bharo Andolan.’ Yet, no meaningful action has been taken,” Selvam mentioned.

He added that the persistent inaction pressured the Congress to prepare the Chakka Jam at Rangat, the place greater than a thousand individuals from varied elements of the Islands participated.

“Road and Public Money Both Stolen,” Says Bhasker

Mr. T.S.G. Bhasker, who led the protest together with the Pradesh Congress President Mr. Rangalal Halder, accused the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and its contractors of gross corruption. He mentioned Congress has already filed complaints at Baratang and Rangat police stations alleging that each the street and the general public funds “have been stolen.”

“Our road is gone, our ₹3500 crore is gone. The highway project is full of corruption. We have collected samples of the materials used and will get them tested both locally and on the mainland. The material being used is of third-grade quality, procured locally instead of the approved sources from the mainland,” Bhasker claimed.

He revealed that NHIDCL officers and native directors, together with the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and Assistant Commissioner of Mayabunder, visited the protest website and guaranteed that the freeway can be totally repaired by June 2026. However, Bhasker mentioned the Congress demanded this assurance in writing inside seven days—by November 8, 2025—failing which the celebration would launch a bigger agitation.

Both leaders shared accounts of deteriorating street circumstances, frequent automobile breakdowns, and near-fatal accidents attributable to poor upkeep. “The NH-4 has turned into a death trap. Vehicles break down frequently, and lives are at risk. This road, instead of serving the people, is now taking lives,” Bhasker mentioned emotionally.

Mr. Selvam added that even in stretches between Jirkatang and Middle Strait declared ‘completed,’ 5–10 km parts have already been severely broken.

During the convention, Bhasker additionally raised the difficulty of restrictions on the Chatham Bridge in Sri Vijaya Puram. He questioned why all visitors besides two-wheelers have been banned on the bridge whereas heavy cranes are nonetheless being allowed. “Recently, a 140-ton crane was carried over the same bridge. If that is allowed, why are ordinary citizens suffering? The administration must at least allow three-wheelers for the public’s convenience,” he mentioned.

He appealed to the media to go to Chatham Bridge and communicate with the affected commuters. “You will see people with children walking long distances because no vehicles are allowed. It’s inhuman,” he remarked.

The Congress management acknowledged that if NHIDCL and the administration fail to offer a written assurance on the NH-4 restore timeline by November 8, the celebration will announce its subsequent plan of motion, which they hinted can be a significant agitation.

“This is not about politics; it’s about people’s suffering. The elderly, patients, and commuters are all victims of this neglect. If the assurance is not kept, we will intensify the movement in a much larger form,” Bhasker concluded.

The NH-4 connects Sri Vijaya Puram to Diglipur by way of Baratang, Rangat, and Mayabunder. It serves because the lifeline for the North and Middle Andaman areas. The venture, being executed by NHIDCL, has confronted repeated delays and complaints over poor high quality and corruption in recent times.