Sri Vijaya Puram, November 12: The Adhyaksh of the Zilla Parishad, North & Middle Andaman, Mr. R. Alager Swamy, has requested the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, seeking his intervention and directions to the departments concerned for early redressal of a list of developmental issues and long-pending public grievances of Baratang Island, Middle Andaman.
The Chief Secretary visited Baratang Islands yesterday and interacted with all the PRI members. Mr. R. Alager Swamy submitted a letter to the Chief Secretary during the interaction and thanked him for visiting Baratang Island and interacting with local residents.
The foremost demand in the letter is to expedite the construction of the Baratang Bridge over Middle Strait Creek, which, the letter said, has remained under process for the last nine years. In the absence of a permanent bridge, the general public, students, patients, government employees and other commuters travelling between Middle Strait and Baratang still depend on ferry services, which often causes delays and difficulties, particularly during emergencies. He asked that all pending formalities be expedited and the construction taken up on priority, noting that the matter had already been taken up with the Lieutenant Governor vide letter No. 10-3/ADHY/ZP/N&MA/2026/854 dated October 8, 2026.
He also sought a Dialysis Unit at PHC Baratang, saying patients with kidney ailments are forced to make frequent and difficult journeys to distant healthcare centres for regular dialysis, causing physical, financial and mental hardship to them and their families, particularly elderly and critically ill patients. A letter on the matter had been sent to the Secretary (Health) on June 26, 2026, and he requested that it be taken up on priority for approval and implementation.
The Zilla Parishad has proposed a Beach Festival at Baludera Beach, Baratang, in December 2026 to promote the island’s tourism potential and generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local youth, entrepreneurs, self-help groups and other stakeholders. The letter noted that Baratang is known for its limestone caves, mud volcanoes, mangrove creeks and beaches, and said the festival would showcase its natural beauty, local culture, traditions and cuisine. A letter had already been sent to the Secretary (IP&T) vide No. 10-3/ADHY/ZP/N&MA/2026/854 dated October 8, 2026, and he sought directions to the department concerned to facilitate the festival.
Mr. R. Alager Swamy said the existing ferry services between Middle Strait and Baratang are inadequate for the growing needs of local residents and the increasing number of tourists, with the small boats now deployed unable to meet passenger demand, particularly during peak tourist seasons, leading to long waits. He sought an additional passenger ferry with adequate capacity, a matter already taken up with the Director (DSS) vide letter F.No. 10-3/ADHY/ZP/N&MA/2026/861 dated October 8, 2026.
He also sought additional bus services between Baratang and Diglipur, saying residents, students, patients, government employees and other commuters frequently face difficulties because of limited bus services while travelling for educational, medical, official and other essential purposes. The matter had been taken up with the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, vide letter No. 10-3/ADHY/ZP/N&MA/2026/594 dated July 28, 2026.
Among other issues, the letter sought a canteen with safe drinking water and basic seating at the Middle Strait ferry terminal, saying passengers and tourists often wait for long periods for ferries without access to drinking water, refreshments or food, causing particular hardship to elderly persons, children and patients.
It sought improvement of the inadequate and unreliable BSNL telecommunication services at Baratang, saying poor connectivity and frequent disruptions affect day-to-day communication, online services, official work, education and emergency communication, and asked for the regular posting of a Junior Engineer, since the absence of one delays the rectification of faults and restoration of services.
The letter also sought urgent repair of the roughly 100-metre stretch of road connecting the National Highway to PHC Baratang, saying its poor condition causes inconvenience to patients, attendants, ambulances and other vehicles, particularly patients needing emergency care, elderly persons and people with limited mobility.
Mr. R. Alager Swamy further sought construction of a protective sea wall at Khadi Basti under Nilambur Gram Panchayat, where residents face coastal erosion, water intrusion and inadequate drainage, with the settlement and nearby properties exposed to damage during high tides, rough seas and adverse weather. He said two existing nallahs in the locality need improvement and proper drainage to discharge rainwater and prevent waterlogging, and that the movement of crocodiles towards the habitation also requires attention and preventive measures to ensure residents’ safety.
He requested the Chief Secretary to issue directions to the departments and authorities concerned to conduct the required inspections, examine the proposals and take action on priority, saying the issues concern basic amenities, healthcare, transportation, communication, tourism, road connectivity and safety of the people of Baratang Island.
