MP Bishnu Pada Ray Seeks Pressing Sanction of Funds for New Chatham Bridge, Urges Deployment of Light-weight Battery-Operated Transport Facility

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 August 2025

Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has urged the Central Government to sanction funds on precedence and begin building of a further bridge connecting Sri Vijaya Puram to Chatham Island, describing it as a matter of “public urgency and strategic importance.”

In letters addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, in addition to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary of A&N Islands, Mr. Ray sought instant intervention in resolving the disaster.

The Chatham Causeway, in-built 1970 by the ALHW, is the only real street hyperlink between Sri Vijaya Puram and Chatham Island. It connects very important amenities together with the Government Saw Mill and Power House, the place over 1,000 staff are engaged, and in addition serves as a lifeline for transportation of products, equipment, gas, and day by day commuters to and from the Chatham Jetty, an vital embarkation level for ferry providers to Bambooflat.

According to Mr. Ray, the causeway has deteriorated over time, regardless of repeated requests for repairs. In June 2025, IIT Madras, upon inspection, declared the construction “damaged beyond repair” and advisable the development of a brand new bridge. Since then, vehicular site visitors has been banned, with motion restricted solely to pedestrians and two-wheelers.

Highlighting the hardship confronted by commuters, Mr. Ray mentioned senior residents, Divyangjans, faculty kids, and sufferers are pressured to stroll almost 1 km from Chatham Jetty to the Chatham Police Station Check Post in Haddo, usually carrying baggage and necessities. “Earlier, buses, autos, cars, and trucks could directly reach Chatham Jetty. Now, in the absence of alternative arrangements, people are suffering extreme hardship,” he said.

To deal with the state of affairs, the MP has sought three pressing measures:

1. Time-bound completion of the feasibility research and DPR by NHIDCL.

2. Immediate sanction of funds and approval for building of a further bridge, treating it as a particular case of public urgency.

3. Arrangement of light-weight battery-operated transport amenities for commuters between Chatham Jetty and PS Chatham Check-post till the brand new bridge or a short lived construction turns into operational.

Calling the problem each a strategic necessity and a humanitarian concern, Mr. Ray appealed for the non-public intervention of the Prime Minister and anxious ministries to make sure well timed sanction and graduation of the brand new bridge venture at Chatham Causeway.