Sri Vijaya Puram, November 5: Our Rights Organization has written to the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands regarding the persistent non-availability of accommodation at the Andaman Guest House, Annanagar, Chennai, and requested an investigation into its online booking system and allotment process. In the letter dated yesterday, the organisation’s Chairman, Mr. C. Saravanan, said that the Guest House is an important facility established for the benefit and welfare of the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It has been observed that the online booking status of the Andaman Guest House frequently, and almost invariably, displays as “FULL”, making it extremely difficult for genuine applicants from the Islands to secure accommodation. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the functioning, transparency and accessibility of the booking system, the letter said.
The Andaman Guest House serves as an essential support facility, particularly for islanders who are required to travel to Chennai for specialised medical treatment, follow-up consultations, surgeries and other healthcare-related purposes. It is equally important for students from the Islands who travel to Chennai for higher education, competitive examinations and other academic requirements. Due to the persistent unavailability of rooms, patients and their attendants, students and other needy islanders are compelled to seek private accommodation at considerably high costs. This places an additional financial burden on families who are already facing difficulties due to medical expenses, educational costs and travel expenditure.
The organisation has requested the Lieutenant Governor to direct the concerned department to examine whether any technical malfunction, administrative deficiency or other issue is responsible for the booking portal frequently displaying the status as “FULL”; to order an independent verification of the actual room capacity, occupancy records, booking registers and room allotment details to ascertain whether rooms are being utilised and allotted in accordance with established rules and procedures; and to ensure that the online booking system reflects the actual availability of rooms and that the booking and allotment process is transparent, fair and accessible to all eligible applicants, with appropriate safeguards to prevent any irregularities or preferential allotment.
It has also sought appropriate priority or a dedicated accommodation quota for islanders travelling to Chennai for medical treatment, particularly patients requiring repeated consultations, specialised treatment and hospitalisation-related assistance, as well as students pursuing higher education; exploration of the feasibility of constructing additional rooms or expanding the existing infrastructure to meet the growing accommodation requirements of islanders visiting Chennai; and an effective grievance redressal mechanism through which applicants can report difficulties in obtaining accommodation, seek clarification regarding room availability and receive timely responses from the concerned authorities.
The Andaman Guest House is not merely an accommodation facility; it is an important welfare institution intended to provide affordable support to the people of these geographically isolated Islands when they visit the mainland for essential purposes. Its facilities should be accessible to genuine beneficiaries, particularly economically weaker families, patients and students, the letter said.
The organisation has appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to issue appropriate directions to the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and the concerned department and officials responsible for the management of the Andaman Guest House, Chennai, to conduct a time-bound investigation, identify the reasons behind the persistent “FULL” booking status and take corrective measures. Copies of the letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary (Vigilance) and the Secretary (Tourism), A&N Administration.
