Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 26 August 2023
The long-awaited day has arrived for residents of Car Nicobar and Katchal, as the newly-inducted ships, Nalanda and Sindhu, are set to embark on their maiden voyages to the respective Islands.
For years, residents of Car Nicobar, the District Headquarters of the Nicobar District, have clamored for modern vessels to replace the ageing M.V. Bharat Seema and M.V. Kalighat, which had been the sole lifelines connecting the respective Islands.
The eagerly anticipated voyage of the Nalanda is scheduled to commence on August 28, 2023. This marks the first-ever journey of the vessel to Car Nicobar, bringing a sense of hope and anticipation among the local population. Nalanda is expected to set sail back to Port Blair on August 29, 2023, providing a vital link between the islands and the mainland.
Similarly, the remote Island of Katchal, home to a significant tribal and non-tribal population, has long yearned for modernised transport services. Despite the construction of a substantial jetty, vessels like Nalanda and Sindhu had not been utilised to serve the people of Katchal.
Sindhu is now set to make its inaugural stop at Katchal during its voyage. Departing on August 29, 2023, Sindhu will sail for Campbell Bay via Katchal and Nancowry, promising improved connectivity and services for the people of Katchal. The ship will return to Port Blair from Campbell Bay on August 31, 2023, via Nancowry.
The residents of both Car Nicobar and Katchal are jubilant as the new vessels of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration embark on their maiden journeys to these islands. They have expressed their elation and gratitude, urging the Administration to maintain the services of these modern vessels to ensure continued connectivity and prosperity for their Islands.