Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 30 July 2026
Road repair work on the Chandni Chowk–Andaman Castle Road has raised concerns among commuters after the final seal coat was laid during peak morning traffic on Wednesday.
According to observations made by the Dweep Tulika team, repair work on the damaged stretch began in early July with road levelling and other preparatory works. However, the final seal coat was not laid at that time, leaving the road unfinished for nearly 15 days.
When the work resumed on 30 July, the seal coat was laid during the busiest hours of the morning, when students, office-goers and daily commuters were using the road. Intermittent rainfall combined with loose dust on the unfinished surface created slippery conditions. During the course of the work, the Dweep Tulika team observed multiple two-wheelers skid and fall while negotiating the stretch.
The team also observed that potholes had already developed on portions of the road before the final seal coat was applied, prompting commuters to question the quality and sequencing of the repair work.
While residents welcomed the ongoing maintenance, several questioned whether such operations could instead be scheduled during late-night or other low-traffic hours. They said this would reduce inconvenience, improve commuter safety and allow roadwork to be carried out more efficiently.
The incident highlights the importance of not only repairing roads but also ensuring that public works are executed with proper planning, traffic management and quality control to minimise risks to road users.