Sarthak Kanjilall
Long Island, Nov 05: Youths of Long Island especially who are studying in Rangat Schools, Coaching Centres and ITI, Bakultala are now going through a very hard time as to reach their specific destination, they have to waste a lot of time in travelling.
After the main ferry ‘MV Bulbul’ that hardly takes an hour to reach Rangat from Long Island has gone under repair, 20 days ago, had made the youths to sail on the only available stand by boat ‘ MV Durga Prasad’ by the Directorate of Shipping Services. According to Islanders the actual distance between Yeratta Jetty, Rangat and Long Island is very less and a fast boat can reach one Jetty to other within 40 minutes, as small engine boats do. But always slow boats are being sent to Long Island for reasons unknown.
As per reports, the stand by boat to which the youths are forced to sail, takes around 80 to 90 minutes to reach Rangat because of which the daily schedule of students have been completely messed up.
“The long journey itself is tiring, total travelling of three hours a day exhausts us and we after reaching home are unable to involve in any other kind of activities,” said a youth of Long Island.
Andaman Sheekha has learnt that several youths of the island who study at Bakultala, have now taken a rented room there to save this travelling time.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, a resident of Long Island said that the first ferry of Durga Prasad is at 07:00 AM to Yeratta Jetty, Rangat and last ferry of Durga Prasad from Yeratta Jetty to Long Island is at 03:30 PM.
“It’s hard to swallow but this is the way the residents of Long Island are managing their show. Hopefully the administration will take immediate action in this regard and instruct the Shipping Department to show some mercy for the people of Long Island and locate one more ferry, well in condition before the slow boat MV Durga Prasad also goes under repair,” said a resident of Long Island.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted, the Deputy Director Shipping Services, Mr R Veeraih, he said that due to technical reasons Bulbul was withdrawn from Long Island. “Substitute vessel is already nominated and will be deployed by next week,” said Mr Veeraih. He also said that ‘Hawabill’ ferry will substitute ‘Bulbul’. Till last report poured in, MV Hawabill has not reached Long Island yet.
