Port Blair, Dec 22: The General Secretary, Andaman Association of Tour Operator, Mr K Hamza has expressed his concern over the Port Management Board for stopping the Bus Services provided by the Private Boat Operators for their passengers and tourists at Phoneix Bay Jetty from the security check point without mentioning any strong reasons.
In a letter addressed to the Lt Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr Hamza said that the said Bus Services by Private Boat Operators was of great help to every passenger and stopping the services by PMB is now causing harassment to the guests.
The visiting tourists were already facing lot of problems like shortage of toilets ,trolleys ,wheel chairs etc after paying passenger service fees also.
“The PMB never took this positive step of providing a shuttle services of their own even after charging passenger service fees and is also not letting the private parties to do so, that too for reasons unknown,” Mr M Vinod, President AATO told Andaman Sheekha over phone.
“It is hard to understand the motive of the authorities of PMB that whether they are there to provide service or to harass visiting tourists and it is seen that the visiting tourists are made to suffer daily because of one or other reasons,” Mr Hamza said.
Mr Hamza further mentioned that on one hand the administration along with stake holders are doing world-wide campaign to promote Brand Andaman but when tourists come here they are harassed for some or the other reasons.
Mr Hamza lastly requested the Lt Governor to intervene in the above said issue to save the only surviving industry which is directly connected with the lives of lakhs of people.
Andaman Sheekha also tried to contact the Chief Port Administrator over phone for a comment but he was not reachable.
