Port Blair, Aug 11: Crying foul over paralyzed shipping service of Andaman and Nicobar Islands the lone Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has drawn attention of the UT’s Lt. Governor towards the appalling conditions of Andaman’s Shipping Department.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, Mr Ray said that out of the 17 Speed Boats in Inter-Island sector, only six are operational and the rest under maintenance, several routes in the inter-island sector are routinely cancelled causing inconvenience of the passengers, Air conditioners are defunct MV Rangat, MV Baratang and newly acquired MV Rani Laxmi and M V Ranichanga, MV Shompen equipped with medical equipments and acquired to attend medical emergencies in the Nancowry group of islands is sitting idle since years.
“Crores of rupees are spent on maintenance of cargo vessels, Garjan,Chuglam, Mahua and Oil Tanker, MV Deep Shakti, but the vessels have hardly been utilised for cargo transport,” the MP said in his letter, which was forwarded to media.
In his letter he mentioned that Tug boats MV Banchi and MV Banshali under PMB are sitting idle for years and the only tug boat operational is Angad that provides services at Port Blair and Mayabunder.
“A few vehicle ferries, he said, are inactive for want of repairs. Despite expending crores, the passenger vessel, MV Gomati having 200 pax capacity is inoperative for the last four years,” Ray added.
In 2010, the Member of Parliament of A & N Islands had moved a Calling Attention Motion of the Shipping Minister in this issue and furnished statement regarding the vessels. But despite assurance from the Shipping Minister, no action has been initiated in the concerns till date.
