Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 20 April 2021
Sanjay Kumar Singh, State Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands today met the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration and requested him for immediate ship sailings to the Southern Group of Islands.
Sanjay Kumar Singh also wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary in which he stated that large number of residents of the Southern Group of Islands i.e Hutbay, Car Nicobar, Nancowry and Campbell Bay are stuck at Port Blair because of non-availability of Shipping Services since long.
He informed the Chief Secretary that after a gap of 20 days the last sailing from Port Blair to Hutbay, Car Nicobar, Nancowry Group and Campbell Bay was held on 11/04/2021 and 13/04/2021 respectively. He further added that very less number of passengers were allowed to travel by the said sailing.
He further informed the Chief Secretary that there are approximately 1400-1500 passengers bound for Hut Bay stuck at Port Blair. Similarly 300-400 passengers bound for Car Nicobar are stuck at Port Blair, 500-600 passengers bound for Nancowry Group are stuck at Port Blair and 500-600 passengers bound for Campbell Bay are also stuck at Port Blair. He also wrote that the number of passengers include patients and students.
He also informed the Chief Secretary that most of the intending passengers are low on money and needs to travel back urgently. He also added that many of them are patients who had travelled to Port Blair for treatment and students who were called by the respective institutions for classes and exams.
Sanjay Kumar Singh further explained to the Chief Secretary that the intending passengers are facing financial constrains.
The Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing to the State BJP leader and assured that arrangements will be made to transport passengers to their destinations in the Southern Group.
Further, Sanjay Kumar Singh also met the Secretary, Shipping Services and explained the problems of the passengers intending to travel to Southern Group of Islands. Positive response was also received from the Secretary, Shipping Services.
Sanjay Kumar Singh while speaking to Nicobar Times over phone this evening informed that he is hopeful that ship sailings will be made available in a couple of days for different Islands of the Southern Group.