Mohammed Sajid
Port Blair, Feb 14: On the second day, since the Administration has pressed government ferry for Ross Island, dozens of angry tourists along with tour operators today reached Tourism Office and demanded more ferries for Ross Island.
Tour Operators and Tourist Van Drivers’ Association demanded closure of the Ross Island than running the show in such an un-organized manner.
Soon the Director held a meeting with the stake holders of Tourism Industry in his chamber but no result came out during the meeting.
However, later in the evening the Administration agreed to increased number of ferries for Ross Islands. According to a press note of Tourism Department the frequency of trips by MV Durgaprasad, the 50 passenger capacity vessel, has been increased.
“Now it will be making four trips to Ross Island daily. In addition to this, MV Mohit, a 36 passenger capacity vessel has been pressed into service by the Directorate of Shipping Services exclusively for tourists visiting Ross Island. It will make at least five trips to Ross Island. The tickets for Ross Island will be available at the ticketing counter at Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex from 8 am onwards. The timing and schedule of the boats will be displayed at the ticketing counter. Also the fun ride activities inside the safe water enclosure of RGWSC will start functioning from tomorrow,” the release said.
The Administration further added that to further facilitate the trips to Ross Island, 70% of the advance ticket for the next day trip will be made available at the Tourist Information Counter of the Directorate of Tourism from 9:30 am onwards while the remaining 30% tickets will be issued at the ticketing counter of Aberdeen jetty (RGWSC) from tomorrow onwards.
“Meanwhile, one scuba dive operator has been registered and four other Scuba Dive Operators have been provided with provisional registration after inspection at Havelock and they can start functioning. The Tourism Department as well as the Directorate of Shipping Services are putting in their best efforts in streamlining the facility,” said the Tourism Director in a press note this evening.
