Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 01 October 2021
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands wrote a letter to the Secretary (Shipping), Andaman and Nicobar Administration and to the Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman) requesting them to schedule regular Ships/Speed Boats for Inter-Island for the convenience of the general public.
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi in his letter has informed the officials that due to the geography of the Islands, the general public depends on ships and speed boats for their transportation needs. Mr. Ajoy Bairagi added that due to the current pandemic the modes of transportation in the Islands have been severely affected.
Mr. Bairagi in his letter listed some of the problems being faced by the general public because of the reduced frequency of ships and speed boats. He informed the officials that most of the major colleges are at Port Blair for which students have to travel from Inter-Islands to Port Blair. He also mentioned that patients and their attenders from Inter-Islands needs to visit G.B Panth Hospital, Port Blair and other major facilities at Port Blair for their treatment.
Mr. Bairagi further mentioned that helicopters services are also available but the services are costly and have limited seats. Mr. Bairagi also informed the officials that the far-flung Islands depends on Port Blair for all their needs, he added that most of the goods are transported through ships.
He requested the officials to look into the issue and do the needful by scheduling ships and boats for Inter-Islands on a regular basis as operated during the pre-pandemic period by following all SOPs of COVID-19.
He also informed the officials that the general public is frustrated by the problems they are facing because of the unavailability of transportation and may resort to agitation if the problems are not sorted out at the earliest.