DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Oct 21: The Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur Islands, Dr. Vivek Kumar has demanded extension of Sea Plane and Daily Helicopter Service to Diglipur Sub-Division.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of (Civil Aviation) A & N Administration, Dr. Vivek Kumar wrote that the Diglipur Sub-Division has a population of nearly 45,000 and there is always a great rush of passengers in STS as well as private buses and ship services are always full even about 20 extra passengers are given standing tickets from the jetty itself.
“Seaplane services have been stopped due to non-renewal of their agreement for which the public as well as the serious medical patients of Diglipur Sub-Division are facing difficulties in case of emergency. Because the seaplane services was the one and only way by which the poor class public of the Diglipur Sub-Division could reach Port Blair at the earliest which is more than 300 kms away in one hour,” Dr. Vivek Kumar added.
Further he said that previously, Sea-Plane Services to Diglipur remained disrupted due to bad weathers. The passengers were not able to get the information about non-availability of seaplane at the time of their journey. So many times serious patients suffered a lot due to this situation.
“It is therefore suggested that if the Naval Air Strip at Shibpur, in Diglipur Sub-Division is used to land the Sea Plane in bad weather conditions as it is done in Port Blair, it would be very much helpful for the public of Diglipur Sub-Division and the services of Sea Plane will become regular and reliable,” he said.
The AC requested to restore the Sea Plane Services to Diglipur on regularly daily basis & to change the timing of continuing Helicopter Services to 8.30 AM instead of 11.15 AM so that in case of cancellation of Helicopter Services due to bad weather conditions the emergency passengers may get the conveys through ATR and reach Port Blair on the same day.
