E Arun & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Mar 13: Although these Islands are buzzing with rumours that the Andaman Trunk Road will be re-opened in one or two days and the Lt. Governor will flag off the first tourist convoy but the Secretary of Tribal Welfare Department today clarified that the Administration is still examining the order of Supreme Court, thoroughly.
Talking exclusively with Andaman Sheekha today, Mr. Theva Neethi Dhas, the Secretary of Tribal Welfare today that the Supreme Court has accepted all the proposals put by the Administration and now the Administration is examining the orders of the Supreme Court and only after examining any decision regarding re-opening of ATR for tourists will be taken.
“I can’t say that the road will be re-opened for tourists ‘shortly’. We are seriously examining the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court,” Mr. Dhas said. When asked whether it would take one week or three Mr. Dhas replied “I can’t say”.
He said that the order of Supreme Court is available online and anyone can google the order copy and read the same.
Here the Tour Operators, Travel Agents and other stake holders of Andaman Tourism are getting restless on this issue. Even after more than a week the Administration has not come out with any press release or official communication for general public regarding the actual status of ATR re-opening.
As far as rumour about LG’s presence during re-opening of ATR for Tourists, Andaman Sheekha has found that till tonight the Lt. Governor’s office has no such programme. On 18th the Lt. Governor is probably visiting Nancowry Groups of Islands before that he has no such programme for ‘flagging of first tourist convoy’ is scheduled.
