V Senthil Kumar
Kadamtala, August 12: Passengers travelling on the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) have demanded the construction of a modern public toilet facility for both men and women at Gate No. 15, Parolbijig Outpost, Kadamtala, citing the severe inconvenience faced by night highway travellers.
Every day, nearly six buses along with several cars and other vehicles arriving from Diglipur during the night halt at Gate No. 15 around 2:30 a.m. to wait for the convoy, which begins at 4:00 a.m. Travellers have to wait for nearly one and a half hours before they are permitted to proceed towards Sree Vijayapuram.
Since most of the passengers are travelling overnight, including women, children, senior citizens, patients, and tourists, they face serious hardship due to the absence of proper toilet facilities. The existing sanitation arrangements are inadequate and unhygienic, causing discomfort and health concerns.
Passengers have appealed to the NHIDCL and the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to immediately construct a modern public toilet complex with separate facilities for gents and ladies, continuous water supply, proper lighting, cleanliness, and regular maintenance.
They stated that Gate No. 15 is an important halt for night highway travellers on the ATR, and providing clean and hygienic toilet facilities is a basic public necessity. The authorities have been urged to take immediate action in the interest of passenger convenience, public health, and hygiene.
