Port Blair, Oct 25: To streamline and cope up with increased tourists flow to Neil Island, the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration convened a meeting last month which was attended DGP, Secretary (Shipping), Secretary(Tourism), other senior officials and other stakeholders namely Mr Vinod, President, AATO, other Tour Operators, Private Boat Operators (Makruzz and Green Ocean), ACCI members.
Recalling the incident that happened on 23.01.2015 at Neil Island, in which some unruly elements illegally obstructed the departure of DSS vessels from Neil Island Jetty, the Chief Secretary informed that stern legal action will be initiated against those who take law into their hands and warned that, in future, such activities will not be tolerated.
He also directed concerned Departments (Police, Revenue, and Tourism) to depute responsible Officers at Neil Island to handle such situations in future.
The Chief Secretary, A & N Administration appealed to all stakeholders to chip in and cooperate with the administration to solve this problem of return tickets for tourists visiting Neil Island, so that Tourism Sector, which is main engine of economic growth of these Islands, is not adversely affected. The Chief Secretary has desired that certain measures should be taken immediately to mitigate the problems of tourists.
The measures include DSS to start issuing return tickets for tourists visiting Neil Island from DSS Counter at Port Blair from 28.10.2015, tourists with confirmed exit ticket from Neil Island will only be allowed to get down at Neil Island Jetty from Oct 28, 2015, DSS, as a temporary measure, will operate a vessel (75/100 pax. capacity) in Port Blair – Neil Island sector, which will depart Port Blair at 1.00pm and depart Neil Island at 3.30pm, Private Boat Green Ocean will operate an additional trip to Havelock from 26.10.2015 and overflow of local islanders in Port Blair –Havelock sector will be catered to by the private sector boats namely Makruzz & Green Ocean during this period, a release from the Tourism Director says.
