Sheekha Bureau
Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr. 17: The Andaman & Nicobar Administration is set to strengthen and streamline public transport services across the Islands, with a focus on increasing bus availability, improving efficiency and introducing modern digital systems. While talking to media persons, the Secretary (Transport), A & N Administration, Mr. Rajanish Kumar Singh, today said that several initiatives are underway to address the growing demand for reliable and accessible transport, especially in view of rising population needs and tourism activities.
Talking to media, Mr. Singh said that the administration is working to make the bus service more robust and well-organized. He informed that a number of buses have gone off-road over time, and to address this, an order has already been placed for procurement of 17 new buses. “We expect these buses to start operating on Andaman roads within the next two months,” he said.
In addition, under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, the Central Government has approved 45 buses for the Islands, which will further augment the transport system and benefit the general public. Highlighting digital initiatives, he said that plans are being considered to introduce a proper fleet management system along with digital payment options. “We are working on enabling card-based payments through conductor machines and also exploring the introduction of smart cards, similar to metro or travel cards used elsewhere,” he added.
Regarding the timeline for the arrival of buses under the Central scheme, Mr. Singh noted that the process may take some time as procurement is handled by Central agencies catering to multiple States and Union Territories. However, he expressed optimism that the buses are likely to be delivered within the current financial year. He further stated that deployment will be based on demand assessment, with North and Middle Andaman receiving priority due to increasing requirements. Services will also be strengthened in Sri Vijaya Puram after consultations with local administration and residents.
On the possibility of introducing cab services to cater to the growing number of tourists, Mr. Singh informed that a cab aggregator scheme has already been notified and applications were invited. “We have received two applications so far, and the State Transport Authority will take a decision in its upcoming meeting scheduled next week,” he said, adding that the scheme will soon be implemented for public benefit.
Addressing concerns related to road safety and congestion, Mr. Singh said that abandoned vehicles parked along roadsides are being removed through enforcement drives. “These vehicles are being shifted to designated locations to ensure smooth vehicular movement and pedestrian safety,” he stated. He assured that all necessary measures under the Motor Vehicles Act will be taken in a phased manner to improve overall road safety and traffic management in the Islands.
