Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Oct 25: The Baratang Ferry which left from Baratang Jetty with passengers for Port Blair was once again directed to divert towards Havelock and bring passengers of Havelock to Port Blair. Surprisingly the direction came after public boarded the ferry thinking it is a direct ferry to Port Blair.
Andaman Sheekha had already raised this issue two days back and highlighted that how such undeclared diversions, are causing problems to Middle Andaman passengers.
Today when there was again such move to send MV Strait Island, the ferry to Havelock, the passengers of Baratang called up the Zilla Parishad Member of Baratang from the ferry and informed about this matter. Later all passengers lodged objection and staged protest onboard MV Strait Island.
Following protest the ferry was then asked to come directly to Port Blair. Had the passengers remained silent then today also they would have to suffer nearly two hour extra and unwanted sea journey.
Later the vessel MV Strait Island was sent to Havelock at 6.00 PM from Port Blair to bring back stranded passengers.
Taking to Andaman Sheekha the Zilla Parishad Member of Baratang strongly criticized the Shipping Services for such illegal and unannounced diversion of ferries from Baratang.
“I am going to take up this matter with the Lt. Governor soon. If the Shipping Department needs to divert the ferry then such schedules must be announced atleast two days in advance so that public can plan their trip to Port Blair and buy bus tickets. Moreover, it seems that the Shipping Department wants to discourage people from using alternate sea route to favour some groups, so that the sea route is closed. This is against Supreme Court’s direction,” he said.
