Sri Vijaya Puram, November 11: Our Rights Organization has sought a vigilance inquiry into what it describes as inadequate and poorly maintained toilet facilities, a lack of lighting and basic amenities, and dangerous overhanging tree branches along the Sri Vijaya Puram–Diglipur convoy route via Middle Strait and Baratang.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary (Vigilance), A&N Administration, the organisation’s Chairman, Mr. C. Saravanan, said passengers on the route, particularly residents of North and Middle Andaman and tourists, face considerable hardship because essential public facilities along the way are inadequate and poorly maintained. These problems, he said, raise concerns about public health, passenger safety and dignity, and the proper upkeep of public infrastructure.
According to the letter, more than 200 passengers and about 400 to 600 tourists travel through the route during each convoy movement, yet adequate and functional toilets are not available at the designated waiting points. At Middle Strait, the existing facilities are insufficient and several units are reportedly not working, while at Baratang a number of the toilets provided are reportedly not operational or are poorly maintained. The organisation said this causes particular hardship to women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable passengers, who have to wait for long periods during convoy movements.
The letter singled out a toilet block at Gate No. 15, reportedly built by the Lions Club, saying photographs enclosed with it show damaged and broken partition doors, poor maintenance and unhygienic surroundings. There is no proper electricity connection or adequate lighting at the premises, which the organisation said raises safety concerns, especially for women and elderly passengers in the early morning and at night. Vehicles and buses bound for Sri Vijaya Puram reportedly halt at the spot for more than an hour, generally between 3 am and 4 am, when about eight to nine buses besides other vehicles may stop there, the letter said.
The organisation said the lack of lighting at toilets and passenger waiting points exposes travellers to risk in the early morning hours when visibility is poor, and asked that electricity, lighting, water supply, sanitation and regular cleaning be ensured at all designated halting points. It also said dry and overhanging tree branches along the route could fall during strong winds or bad weather, endangering passengers and vehicles and obstructing convoys, and asked that the Divisional Forest Officers of South Andaman and Baratang be directed to inspect the route and remove or trim such branches.
Citing recurring complaints about non-functional toilets, damaged infrastructure, poor lighting and unhygienic conditions, the organisation said a proper monitoring and accountability mechanism was needed, and questioned whether the departments concerned were carrying out regular inspections and maintenance.
Among its demands, the organisation has asked for a vigilance inquiry into the condition and maintenance of public toilets at Middle Strait, Baratang and Gate No. 15, including the responsibility of the agencies and officials entrusted with their upkeep; immediate repair of damaged facilities, including broken doors, partitions and water supply; electricity and lighting at Gate No. 15 and other waiting points; enough separate toilets for men and women at Middle Strait and Baratang; daily cleaning and periodic maintenance; fixing of responsibility for the neglect; and corrective action within a set time frame, with an action-taken report to the Chief Secretary (Vigilance).
Describing the road link through Middle Strait and Baratang as an essential lifeline for the people of North and Middle Andaman, used by residents, government employees, patients, students and tourists, Mr. Saravanan said basic facilities such as clean toilets, electricity, lighting and sanitation at important stopping points remain inadequate or poorly maintained.
