PORT BLAIR: The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has cried foul over the laying of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) work through open trenching by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) at Andaman National Highways-4.
This open trenching work has caused extensive damages to the highway stretch passing through Jarawa Area (Jirkatang to Middle Strait) in South Andaman region.
At present the BSNL is laying OFC across the NH4 through a private contractor, but as per NHIDCL, 'irresponsible' work by the contractor has caused extensive damage to the NH4 inside a Jarawa reserve area.
Meanwhile, the NHIDCL officials have written a letter to BSNL unit in Andaman pointing out that the open trenching near the edge of carriageway, loose filling in trenches after laying of conduit, blockage of existing earthen drains and unattended chambers dug in the vicinity of carriageway, have resulted in extensive damages all along the highway (31 km 307 km).
The letter further said that the excavation near the edge of carriageway in 166 km falling of OFC by the contractor has been observed by the field staffs of NHIDCL, which is violation of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
As per the documents available with UNI, the NHIDCL has also requested the BSNL to comply with the terms and conditions of their agreement, executed in accordance of MoRTH guidelines and has also requested it to stop laying of any conduit through open trenching.
Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) is considered to be the lifeline of North and Middle Andaman as the road connects North and Middle Andaman with Port Blair city and presently NHIDCL has got the contract of making ATR into double lane and construction of two mega bridges, on Middle & Humphery Straits of ATR.