National Highway 4 | ||||
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Route information | ||||
Maintained by NHAI | ||||
Length | 333 km (207 mi) | |||
Major junctions | ||||
North end | Lamiya Bay | |||
South end | Chidytapu | |||
Location | ||||
Country | India | |||
Primary destinations | Port Blair | |||
Highway system | ||||
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National Highway 4, or NH 4,[1] is the major highway in the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is 230.7 km in length. This road running from the capital city of Port Blair to Diglipur connecting all major towns of Ferrargunj, Baratang, Kadamtala, Rangat, Billy Ground, Nimbudera, Mayabunder and Diglipur. This highway is known as the Andaman Trunk Road (The Great Andaman Trunk Road).
Prior 1970s to early 1990s transportation of men and goods used to take several days by sea route now can be completed in a matter of 10–12 hours. NH-4 facilitates movement of essential commodities, access to health care facilities, etc. year-round.
ATR passes through the buffer zone of the Jarwa Reserve between Jirkatang to the Middle Strait where laws are in place to minimize traveler contact with the native tribe of Jarawa. Only vehicle convoys with armed escorts are allowed.
This highway is currently undergoing a major upgrade and construction of two major bridges under NHIDCL[2] of ₹ 1511.22 crores.
Earlier this stretch of highway was numbered as NH-223. [3]
A stretch of national highway from Mumbai to Pune to Hubli to Bangalore to Chennai was earlier called NH 4 before renumbering of national highways in 2010. The former NH 4 is now renumbered as NH 48.