Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 August 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has welcomed the intervention of Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, concerning the sluggish progress of the National Highway-4 (NH-4) works between Baratang and Shibpur – Diglipur, and the development of the Bridge between Middle Strait and Baratang.
Responding to considerations raised by Mr. Ray on June 5, 2025, Mr. Gadkari reviewed the matter and communicated the present standing, causes for delays, and revised timelines for the completion of assorted stretches of the challenge by way of a DO letter dated August 21, 2025. The Minister additionally directed NHIDCL authorities and contractors to strictly adhere to the revised schedules to make sure the protection and comfort of commuters.
Regarding the Baratang Bridge, Mr. Gadkari famous that the earlier contract had been terminated on June 6, 2023, as a result of poor progress. A brand new contract was awarded on May 7, 2025, and the contractor has absolutely mobilized on the web site with piling works underway. The bridge is now focused for completion by December 31, 2026. The revised timelines for the NH-4 packages are as follows:
• Baratang Bridge – 31.12.2026
• Package III-A (Baratang to Police Checkpost-15, Adajig, Kadamtala) – 31.03.2026
• Package III-B (Police Checkpost-15, Kadamtala to Rangat Fire Station) – 31.03.2026
• Package IV (Thoratang to Austin-II, Mayabunder) – 31.12.2025
• Package II (Austin-II, Mayabunder to Kalara Junction) – 31.12.2025
• Package VIII (Kalara Junction to Lamya Bay, Diglipur) – 31.12.2025
Mr. Gadkari acknowledged the delays, attributing them to unavoidable circumstances, together with an unusually early monsoon in April 2025, and guaranteed that strict directions have been issued to NHIDCL to finish the works throughout the revised deadlines.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray recalled that in his tenure within the sixteenth Lok Sabha, persistent monitoring ensured the well timed completion of NH-4 works from Chidiyatapu to Middle Strait, together with the Uttara Bridge. However, as a result of lack of constant follow-up within the seventeenth Lok Sabha, development of the Baratang Bridge and stretches from Baratang to Lamya Bay suffered delays, inflicting hardship to day by day commuters.
At the start of the 18th Lok Sabha, Mr. Ray took a eager curiosity within the matter, bringing it to the eye of Mr. Gadkari, which led to a evaluate assembly at Raj Niwas on December 28, 2024. Following this, timelines have been fastened, and stalled works have been restarted.
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Ray stated, “I sincerely thank Hon’ble Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari for his personal intervention, fixing strict timelines, and directing NHIDCL and concerned officials to expedite the completion of NH-4 stretches and the Baratang Bridge. This will bring much-needed relief to the people of North & Middle Andaman, who have been facing severe hardship due to the deplorable road conditions.”
