Port Blair, July 30: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Government to intervene and pass necessary orders to speed up the construction of Chatham-Bamboo Flat Bridge which will bring a sea change for enabling convenient vehicular traffic movement from a major part of the South Andaman region to Port Blair City and reduce the travel time for the commuters from several villages.

Raising the issue in Parliament under rule 377 on 28.07.2023, the Member of Parliament said that the Chatham-Bamboo Flat Bridge involves the construction of a 1.6 km bridge worth Rs. 2,000 Crore to connect Chatham Island and Bambooflat Island in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which belong to the Port Blair group of islands.

He mentioned that at present, people need to travel about 48 kms to reach from one point to another through land. The construction of a bridge will bring the two regions closer. The task for implementing it has been given to National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

The Member of Parliament added that the ground works for the proposed Chatham- Bambooflat Bridge was on halt during the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the progress of DPR preparation. The delay in the construction of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge is causing great concern among the residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The Draft DPR has been forwarded to HQ, NHIDCL on 25.02.2023, which is under examination for obtaining sanction from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, he added.

Kuldeep Rai Sharma also pointed out that the bridge will not only bring economic prosperity to many areas of South Andaman region by developing South Andaman areas under Twin City Concept but also reduce the travelling time to North & Middle Andaman, as it will provide a shorter alternative road to Ferrargunj from Port Blair.