Havelock, Jan 21: A two days long dharna organised by the Members of the Havelock Paryatak Seva Sangh ended up today evening after the members received few assurances from the Top Official of Andaman Administration. But the two day long strike has made the tourists as well as the Tour Operators to face tremendous difficulties bringing a bad name for the Andaman Tourism. The tourist, who arrived at the Havelock Island couldn’t get a vehicle to reach to their respective Hotel/Resorts at Havelock, as all the commercial vehicles were not operated by the Havelock Paryatak Seva Sangh.
The Tour Operators sitting at different places had no answer to give their guests as they were completely helpless.
Top Tour Operators blamed the Andaman Administration, as according to them, on 12thJanuary the Havelock Paryatak Seva Sangh announced to sit on the Dharna on 20th January but no one from the administration took it seriously to solve or even bothered to come and give an assurance to the Members of HPSS.
The Members of HPSS earlier in many occasions demanded the Administration to repair the roads going towards Kalapathar and Radhanagar Beach, demanded to remove the Cycling Track in Road that start from the Havelock Jetty, Parking places at different Tourist spots, Improvement in Connectivity in the islands etc, but when none of the demands were taken seriously and sorted out by the administration, the HPSS took this step that too after giving an ultimatum on 12th January.
“This is a real sad state for us, when the Andaman Administration was aware of the Strike then they should have atleast informed it to us at Port Blair so that we would have prepared ourselves and made some arrangements of our own. Our entire holiday is now a flop show.” said a Tourist from Kolkata.
“The tour operator has charged us for all logistics and a trip to Elephanta Beach, Radhanagar Beach but we couldn’t go for the visit today and tomorrow we have to return, money as well as our entire day has wasted,” said another tourist of Maharashtra.
However, today evening when the Andaman Administration felt that the matter is taking a serious turn, then the Sub Divisional Magistrate, South Andaman, Mr Rajesh Choudhary visited the Havelock Island and assured the protestors that the administration will construct a parking place at Radhanagar Beach at a piece of land of Tourism Department.
He also assured that, till March the Road towards Radhanagar and by April the road till Kalapathar Beach will be repaired. He also said that a parking place will be constructed at the Helipad area near the Jetty very soon and regarding parking place at Kalapathar, he said the protestors that being the area coming under the Forest, it will take time and also regarding the Cycling Track alongside the road, he said that the decision can only be taken by the Lt Governor.
However, after some assurances the strike was called off and the tour operators started their work giving a big relief to the Tourists as well as Tour Operators.
