Sunday, May 15 2005 13:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: For the people of the Great Nicobar Island whose lives were devastated by the Tsunami waves, there is a silver lining.

World-class 'Tsunami-proof' roads will soon come up in the island to replace the ones which were washed away when the giant waves struck on December 26 last.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Defence organisation engaged in building and maintaining roads in inaccessible areas, has been entrusted with the task of carrying out the restoration work in the island.

"We will begin work on a war-footing as soon as the equipment and men move into the affected areas," a senior BRO official told PTI.

When the giant waves struck on the morning on December 26, it washed away scores of villages near the Campbell Bay - populated mainly by settlers from the mainland - killing thousands of people.

The Tsunami also destroyed 30 kms of the 50 kms stretch of road near the Campbell Bay, severely impeding efforts to reach aid to the affected people.

BRO now wants to ensure that should such a tragedy recur, the roads are least affected.

"The earlier road was very near to the beach which is why it sustained such extensive damage," the official said.

"We have planned the new road away from the sea-front in such a way that even if waves of the same intensity strike, it will be least affected," the official said.

An advance party of the BRO has already carried out an initial assessment of the ground situation and the Government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore to the organisation to start the work.

But lack of accommodation for its men on the island is causing a delay in starting the project.

"Most of the accommodation earmarked for us are still occupied by the affected people. But the local administration has started shifting them out and we hope to move in within a week," the official said.

While 80 BRO personnel are waiting in Kolkata for marching orders, another 250 more will be moved from Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

The organisation is also hoping to attract as many casual labourers as possible to complete the work as quickly as possible.

BRO will use the latest equipment and techniques in making the road so that the quality of the road is world-class.

"Though about 20 kms of the original road has survived, we are likely to retain very little of it as we want to ensure the quality of the new road is latest," the official said.

BRO has also offered its expertise in taking up road restoration work in Car Nicobar and Andaman Islands, which were also badly affected, but no decision had been taken yet by the Union territory administration, he said.