Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 05 December 2025
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, has assured that the Central Government remains committed to strengthening maritime connectivity for the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, acknowledging that reliable and affordable sea transport continues to be the region’s primary lifeline.
The assurance came in response to a letter submitted by CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, Mr. R. Sachithanantham. In his written reply, the Union Minister stated that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration currently operates four vessels for mainland shipping services.
Mr. Sonowal further informed that four new 500-passenger inter-island vessels are being procured by the Administration, and these may also be deployed on the mainland route if required.
To improve inter-island connectivity, particularly in the southern group of islands, the Minister confirmed that two 300-passenger vessels are being chartered and four 200-ton cargo vessels are being acquired to improve both passenger and cargo transport across the archipelago.
The Minister also highlighted declining utilisation of ships on the mainland–island route due to passengers increasingly shifting to air travel, which has led to substantial financial losses. Despite this trend, the Ministry has continued efforts to maintain essential shipping services, he stated.
Mr. Sonowal further noted that the ongoing practice of deploying contract crew in place of rostered staff has produced positive results and created employment opportunities for youth holding Certificates of Competency (CoC).
To address long-standing issues related to freight movement, the Minister revealed that the Administration is in the process of procuring two cargo vessels with a capacity of 200 containers each. This step is expected to help break the monopoly of private cargo operators and reduce prices of essential goods in the islands.
The developments follow a meeting held on 31 July 2025, where CPI(M) MP Mr. Sachithanantham and Mr. D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI(M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee, met the Union Minister at his Parliament House office and submitted a memorandum listing key shipping-related demands.
Among the demands, the CPI(M) sought expediting the construction of two 1,200-passenger vessels with 1,000 MT cargo capacity ordered earlier from Cochin Shipyard, citing the difficulties faced by passengers travelling between the islands and mainland. The party stated that the commissioning of these vessels would generate employment for 200–300 seafarers from the islands.
The memorandum also reiterated the long-pending demand of the Nicobarese community for additional MV Sentinel-type vessels suitable for shallow harbours and rough sea conditions in the southern group of islands, including Car Nicobar and Katchal. The CPI(M) urged the Centre to procure at least three such vessels and additional 450/500-passenger inter-island ships to address rising travel demand.
The party further pressed for more cargo vessels and permanent recruitment of seamen on a roster basis under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, citing large-scale unemployment among trained seafarers. [Story Based on PR from CPI(M)]
