Construction work of the longest bridge in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is underway.
The project is likely to be completed by March 2023. So far 37 percent construction work on 1.97 km long bridge over Middle Strait creek has been completed.
The structure will reduce travel time between Middle Strait and Baratang in Middle Andaman by 45 minutes.
The travel speed in this stretch of NH-4 is 15 km per hour, but once this bridge is completed it will increase to 60 km per hour. The construction of the bridge is being executed by JV between Mantena Constructions & Vasishta Constructions.
Another 1.45 km long Humphrey Strait bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 202 crore, while the structure over the Middle Strait Creek is being done at a cost of Rs 170 crore. The Humphrey Strait bridge was inaugurated by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) has also taken up construction of five smaller bridges - one each at Jodakalan, Sippighat junction, Dhanikhari junction, Potatong and B.D Nallah in the Jarawa reserved area.
The nodal agency has also taken up construction of NH-4 from Port Blair to Diglipur. The total length of NH-4 is 330 km, out of which around 151 km has been completed.