Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 10: There were serpentine queues of cars, autorickshaws, bikes and trucks in and outside the premises of ANIIDCO Retail outlet, Diglipur today to fill fuel to the brims of tanks of their vehicles.
As per report, ANIIDCO Retail outlet, Diglipur witnessed a huge crowd of motorists and other vehicle owners in the early morning today and they all were in a hurry to buy fuel in large volume. When asked why they were filling the tanks of their vehicles with such volume of fuel, they said that the NH is going to close and there won’t be any supply of fuel in the coming days referring to a letter sent from STM, Port Blair Terminal, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. to the Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman in which it was reportedly mentioned that ATR is the only connecting road between their Terminal and N & M Andaman and lately the condition of this ATR has deteriorated and has become very unsafe for transportation of petroleum product.
The letter further read that there is risk of product spillage as well as life of drivers and helpers. The letter concluded with the urge to the DC to take necessary action for immediate repair of the roads so that supply of petroleum products can be reportedly maintained to N & M Andaman customers smoothly; and this letter which became viral reportedly sparked the situation.
However, to know further on the matter when Andaman Sheekha contacted the Manager of the Outlet, the Official said that there was no reason to be panicked at this point of time as there is sufficient fuel in their stock and two more tankers are arriving from Port Blair to Diglipur tonight and which will further ensure the supply of fuel for about a week; however, showing concern over the dilapidated condition of the NH/ATR, the Manager also said that, if the NH is not restored to motorable condition and if the road further aggravates, it may reportedly affect smooth supply of the fuel.
The staff manning the petrol pump also used mike to tell the consumers about the availability of the fuel and also to dispel their panic. The Manager also told Andaman Sheekha that bikers, out of undue panic, frequent the outlet multiple times and fill their bike tanks and go home, empty the tanks and again visit the pump for buying petrol, which they should desist from, the Manager urged.
The Andaman Sheekha further contacted Mr. Ankit Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman to know about the present state of the NH and its impact on transportation especially of fuel and essential commodities by trucks. The Deputy Commissioner said that he had a meeting with the Officials of the NHIDCL in the morning hours today and he gave them instructions to make the road motorable and ensure the free plying of vehicles on the NH/ATR.
