John Wilbert
Port Blair Dec 04: Thousands of daily vehicle ferry commuters from Bambooflat and nearby areas organized a massive protest from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM today at Bambooflat Jetty demanding the Shipping Department to operate more vehicle ferries between Bambooflat-Chatham sector.
As per reports, the commuters of Bambooflat area got hugely disappointed with operation of only one ferry that too during busy hours today.
As per the commuters, the one vehicle ferry in the region during peak hours is not sufficient to meet the demands. “There are now thousands of people who have to reach Port Blair for schools, offices and for other tasks, the rush is so much here during peak hours that one has to struggle to get into the Vehicle Ferry,” Mr. Rajesh Kumar Lal, a social worker of the region told Andaman Sheekha.
However, after the hour long protest the Director Shipping Department, Capt Ashutosh Pandey, reached the spot and assured the protestors to fulfil their demands by plying sufficient ferries and also promised that a new vehicle ferry of capacity 40 four wheelers and 60 two wheelers will be provided within two months. The protest was withdrawn at around 11.30 am.
He also requested the protestors to cooperate with the Shipping Department if any day the Shipping department is unable to provide sufficient vehicle ferries.
