Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 23 August 2023
The lifeline for residents of the remote Islands of Nicobar District is the maritime connection, but the people of Car Nicobar are currently grappling with significant difficulties due to the unavailability of ships for travel between Port Blair and Car Nicobar.
The last lifeline, the M.V. Bharat Seema, embarked on its voyage from Port Blair to Nancowry, passing through Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Chowra, Teressa, and Katchal on August 10th, 2023. It sailed back to Port Blair from Nancowry, taking the same route through Katchal, Teressa, Chowra, Car Nicobar, and Little Andaman on August 13th, 2023. This marked the final ship sailing that the residents of Car Nicobar could utilise.
Residents have expressed their concerns to the Nicobar Times, reporting that a large number of applications for helicopter tickets are being submitted daily to the authorities. Unfortunately, many people are unable to travel due to the limited capacity of helicopters, exacerbating the transportation crisis.
The Directorate of Shipping Services has just one available vessel, the M.V. Bharat Seema, capable of serving Car Nicobar Island. M.V. Kalighat, another vessel with the capacity to serve Car Nicobar Island, has been out of service for an extended period. According to the Marine Traffic Website, M.V. Kalighat departed for Kochi in November 2022 and has yet to return.
In response to these challenges, residents are urgently calling for the immediate deployment of a ship between Port Blair and Car Nicobar. The situation has left many residents stranded and struggling. The pleas of the community underscore the pressing need for swift action to resolve the transportation crisis and alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of Car Nicobar.