Port Blair, Nov 18: Humane Touch, a voluntary organization has appreciated the safety drill conducted by DSS on vehicle ferry and passenger ferry services plying between Chatham and Bambooflat.
In a letter addressed to the Director, Shipping Services, it said that the Directorate has taken the right step ensuring comprehensive safety standards on board vessels.
The Organization while appreciating the initiative of DSS has also demanded an additional service at 12 noon, when the traffic is very high from Chatham to Bambooflat.
While it’s imperative that precautions are taken well in advance to avert any kind of disaster or unwanted incidents risking the lives of large number of people travelling on the route, the Organization has drawn the attention of the authorities that from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm, there is no service between Chatham and Bambooflat. Subsequently, the service which resumes at 12.30 pm and 1.00pm attracts unprecedented rush of vehicles as well as passengers.
The release further mentions that the service at 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm is surely an invitation for disaster, if additional services are not put on the route. The heavy rush of passengers will make any kind of disaster preparedness or safety measures ineffective, if any accident happens.
Moreover, on weekends, especially on Sundays, large number of people for various reasons travels on the route, increasing the traffic manifold. In addition to that, there are always a huge number of tourist vehicles, four wheelers, going towards Mt Harriet during this period, the release said.
