Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Nov 27: Since the condition of the Andaman Trunk Road is pathetic and services of Ferry and Speed Vessels to Diglipur is totally unreliable since past several months, the President, Island Protection Forum has demanded the Lt. Governor to issue instructions to the authorities concerned to transport the referred patients from any hospitals of North and Middle Andaman only via Helicopters.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the President, Island Protection Forum (a non-political organisation), Mr. MT Mustafa stated that even after the Directorate of Shipping Services having all financial and technical staffs and state of art facilities, the Department is unable to maintain the frequency of speed boats in the islands.
“Decades before slow boats were plying between the islands and particularly in North & Middle Andaman, on those days the services were quiet sufficient but now after joining of several number of speed vessels the frequency has been reduced upto once or twice in a week, which is very surprising,” said Mr. Mustafa.
Giving details, the Lt. Governor, Mr. Mustafa stated that in 2005 boats were available for Diglipur on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In 2006 the services were available on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. In the year 2017 from April to June not even a single voyage was scheduled to Diglipur. September, 2017 to 28th October, 2017 only three vessels were scheduled and since then none of the boats were sent to Diglipur.
Mr. Mustafa mentioned that mostly people from poor background avail services of the boats because it’s cheaper than bus service.
Moreover, everyone knows that the present situation of the ATR is too dangerous for patients and to ensure safety of every referred patient transportation via helicopter remains the only option.
