Dr. Dinesh

The Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) northward route NH-223 is an amazing stretch of 360 kms journey which connects Port Blair to Diglipur in North Andaman which is riddled with pot holes (large & small),craters causing inconvenience and nightmares to the road users and it is extremely hazardous, rains in the recent past have turned the road virtually into a death trap. Everyday hundreds of vehicles passes through ATR, it is fully dotted with potholes and is dangerous to commute on road, motorists have a Herculean task driving through the stretch, tourists from all over the world come and visit the famous Limestone Caves of Baratang and also the beautiful Ross & Smith Island which has a sand bar joining the two Islands at Diglipur.

Recently an official release from the Prime Minister’s office had given a presentation on the vision for holistic development and had initially proposed to open up more Islands for tourism, seeing the bad road conditions the tourists take bitter memories back home and may effect the tourism potential in the long run. Pregnant ladies, referred patients and those already suffering from back aches who commute through the ATR, it can worsen their problems or medical conditions and moreover the drivers had to strain a lot and they too become fatigue while driving.

There have been frequent instances of minor accidents in the past one week because of break down of vehicles or vehicles gone off road, one can’t blame the driver alone for that, the narrow width of the road with potholes make the driver immensely difficult to maneuver while driving with bus passengers or truck loads of essential commodities and perishable items as ATR is the life line of Middle and North Andamans, sometimes while giving way to incoming vehicles the bus or truck tilt to one side as the brim of the road has been washed away by incessant rain. There is breakdown of spring leaf of vehicle due to bad road conditions, if there is breakdown of vehicles on ATR especially in Jarawa reserve area it is extremely difficult and time consuming to get a mechanic and also a nightmare for the travelers too, till an alternate arrangement are made to bring the passengers. 

Some of the stretches of ATR doesn’t have retaining wall or proper drainage and during rainy season the water gushes to the road and the tarred road is ripped off. Since it is a National Highway proper maintenance of the road is of utmost importance for the safety of passengers, PWD should do the maintenance work on war footing or else more accidents and breakdown of vehicles can happen and the concerned authorities should not wait for a tragedy.

Sir,

Apropos news item in The Andaman Chronicle dated 16 Nov, 2015 wherein we have been given to understand that six speed breakers is proposed to be laid at different places in the city.

While agreeing to the contention that Speed Breakers play an important role in regulating vehicular speed, I intend to draw attention of concerned authorities towards the guideline issued by Indian Road Congress (IRC: 99-1988) specifying the general conditions, scope and detailed specifications for design, plan of placement, sign postings, markings, maintenance and other issues relating to use of speed breakers for Indian road conditions.

It will not be out of place to mention that article 5.1 of the IRC guideline reads: Speed breakers are formed basically by providing a rounded (17m radius) hump of 3.7m width and height of 0.10 m (10cm/4 inch) at the centre for general traffic. The document specifically mentions Speed Breakers should be so designed that it should not cause damage to the vehicle nor cause excessive discomfort to the driver and passengers while crossing a hump at the preferred speed. Neither should a hump give rise to excessive noise or cause harmful vibrations to the adjoining buildings or affect other residents of the area.

Therefore, through the columns of your esteemed daily, I request authorities concerned to ensure that the proposed speed breakers conform to the prescribed design specifications. I also request that other safety features such as Retro-reflective warning sign (40m ahead of speed breaker), marking with (yellow and white) paints, which serve as a visual warning and proper illumination of streets are also taken up.

Debkumar Bhadra

Shore Point, Bambooflat, S Andaman

Sir

On 1st January at around 4.30 am my son R.S. Vishnu's car AN 01 0011 was forcefully stopped near Aboo Pan Shop by a boy who was riding a R15 .

One more Ecco sports An 01 J 5454 came from behind and parked in such a way that my son had no space to move the vehicle. 

The bike rider had already blocked my son’s car from the front with his R15.

Before my son could understand anything the bike rider came to the window side and started hitting my son. Meanwhile two more car carrying around 15 boys also reached there and joined these boys.

Suddenly someone broke the rear wind screen of my son’s car.  Hearing the sound, my son turned back and saw two boys coming from the back. Immediately after that all the boys left the scene. 

On hearing about this incident, I took my son to Aberdeen Police Station and lodged a complaint but I regret to state that police had not yet lodged a FIR.

I would further like to inform you that earlier also I have lodged two complaints but no case was registered.

The role of police in all the three case should be enquired and why the law of the land is immune to this family should be brought to light.

Dr. Jijith Rekh

R/o Austinabad

It is seen the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) now a days is taking good care of the public roads under its jurisdiction. Erstwhile only those roads within the city limits were maintained regularly, however during the last couple of years the department is seen repairing rural roads almost through the year by filling potholes and damaged edges. Apart from this the rural roads are also being widened and the Speed Breakers that were defective in construct and hampered smooth flow of traffic has either been removed or flattened. I therefore deem it fit to record my appreciation towards APWD, specifically RCD Wimberly Gunj for its recent endeavor in the road sector. Thanks for making life of motorists and other road users comfortable.

Debkumar Bhadra

Shore Point, Bambooflat

Dear Editor,

Let me start from the first day I met Mr. Suresh Sharma, Director of Satkar Travels along with Mr R.K. Narula , Vice President, Satkar Travels in the chamber of Adv Naveen Mishra. Mr Sharma  expressed his intention of sending group to my hotel  on signing  an agreement for 16 months . We agreed and next day they both left to Delhi .

Last week of Oct , 2 management staff with 2 cook landed and took charge and an amount of Rs 4,00,000/- in 3 instalments was deposited . I insisted that I will need 3 month advance and one month rent ie; 10 lakhs  if they are willing to take for the said period or else I will charge them as per actual .

The agreement never happened . I kept on sending mails calming for room  rent. They said that as their Manager & staff are in the hotel they would clear the payment .

On the 1st of Dec , I requested for the money and warned them for consequences. 4th Dec  I filled a written complained  to P S Aberdeen , on 5th another complained , On 6th Dec I had to switch of the power supply at 6 am and forced all guest to either pay or check out . Till this time No action was taken by the police department. Yesterday evening the Agencies had sent return tickets for their  staff and directed them to move out to different hotel . Today even the manager of the company  left and hotel and are hiding in Hotel Vivek , Garacharma . Surprisingly on action is taken and I came the agent are leaving for Delhi by after noon flight .

Requesting you to please take up this matter.

Pramod

Holiday Resort, Port Blair