Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 29: The Shipping Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is trying hard to improve the vehicle ferry service in two creeks of Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), for smooth traffic flow.
Frequent breakdowns and unavailability of sufficient vehicle ferry vessels in Middle Strait and Humphrey Strait, two creeks which cuts through the Andaman Trunk Roads in two different areas, delay the journey of Andaman Trunk Roads, causing discomfort to ATR passengers.
Public allege that often due to breakdown of vehicle ferry vessels the 10 hour long journey of ATR often become 12 to 14 hour long.
But now considering the brewing anger among passengers the Shipping Department of A & N Administration is taking several steps to improve the service.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Deputy Director of Shipping Services Mr. R Veeraiah said that presently considering the heavy traffic flow two bigger vehicle ferry vessels MV Lapathy and MV Pilobhabhi are plying in Middle strait, connecting Middle Strait Jetty and Baratang Jetty.
He said that similarly two small vehicle ferry vessels have been placed at Humphrey Strait, between Gandhi Ghat Jetty and Uttara Jetty.
“But due to excessive pressure on these small ferries the breakdown percentage of these vessels is very high. To deal with this problem we are planning to place another bigger vehicle ferry vessel at Humphrey Strait, making total number of Humphrey Strait at Humphrey strait to three,” the DDSS said.
He said that other than this another small vehicle ferry vessel Austin V is totally ready after renovation, which the Shipping Department is planning to press into service in December 2015.
“We will place Austin V at Middle Strait and with this total number of vehicle ferry vessels at Middle Strait and Humphrey Strait will be three each,” Mr. Veeraiah added.
He said that other than this MVF Kadamtala will also become sea worthy in three or four months and after that the vehicle ferry service in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will considerably improve.
The life line Andaman Trunk Road, connects Port Blair city with North and Middle Andaman and everyday several thousand people including thousands of tourists travel through ATR.
Fisherman Drowns at Diglipur
D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, Nov 29: A fisherman died at Imli Tikry area of Diglipur recently when he fell from a fishing dinghy. According to report on Thursday last four fishermen had gone for fishing but when the dinghy was crossing Imly Tikry area one fisherman, Mr. Gaurango Dutta, resident of VS Palli fell into water accidently while moving from one side of the dinghy to other due to balance loss.
As per reports after three hours of search other fishermen, the dead body of Mr. Gaurango Dutta was found at the shore. The police has seized the dinghy and registered a case of death due to negligence. Further investigations are on.
One fisherman died by drowning
One fisherman Gaurango Dutta r/o V S Palli yesterday died by drowning
near Imli Tikry at Diglipur. Four fishermen were went to fishing by a
Engine dinghy when they reached near imly tikry one of the fisherman
Gauranga Dutta tried to cross from one side of the dinghy to other
side by walking on ramp of the dinghy, suddenly a huge wave hit the
dinghy and he fell in the sea. After three hours search his dead body
found on the shore. The dinghy was seized and a case under sec
280/304A was registered at PS Diglipur and police investigating
further.
Frequent breakdown of ferry service between those two creeks in the ATR has been haunting commuters from N&M Andamans for long. Its time the concerned authorities should expedite construction of the proposed bridges over these creeks. This will ease the congestion and the ferries so released from the route could be deployed in other parts of the islands.