Special Bus service introduced between Haddo Wharf and Bhatu Basti

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Aug 31: Persistent demands from various quarters finally paid off as the Transport Department of the UT Administration introduced special bus services between Haddo Wharf and Bhatu Basti recently. The bus services will benefit scores of ship passengers who earlier had to dish out huge money to private transport means to reach their destinations after arrival from mainland.
As per the new arrangement, the Transport Department will position a bus at the Haddo Wharf to transport passengers arriving from mainland, Kolkata, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai, after their arrival. The bus will be stationed in front of the Passenger Terminal at Haddo to avoid any inconvenience to ship passengers. “This is a welcome step by the Transport Department. Passengers had to face hardships earlier in the absence of bus service between Haddo and Bhatu Basti. Availing an auto rickshaw or a taxi was an expensive deal as they charged heavily from the ship passengers. The introduction of the special bus services has come as a huge relief for the ship passengers,” said some residents of Bhatu Basti.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Secretary-cum-Director, Transport Department, Mr JB Singh said that the special bus service between Haddo Wharf and Bhatu Basti will be linked to ship arrivals from mainland. The bus will facilitate movement of passengers to their destinations on nominal fares from Haddo Port, he added.