Trinath & Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, September 03: While the authorities claim that the second priority will be given to the Government Passenger Buses to cross the ATR convoy after allowing the essential service vehicles, the same does not seem to be the ground reality.
A State Transport Service Bus with nearly 25 passengers that left from Rangat this morning at 05:30 AM, reached the Baratang Jetty at 08:15 AM, an hour and forty-five minutes before the first convoy from Middle Strait side. But sadly for reasons unknown, the bus was not allowed to cross the Middle Strait Check-post this morning.
As per reports, passengers were informed that the bus will be allowed to cross the check-post in next gate which is at 2.30 PM, which left all passengers deeply upset, many passengers were patients coming to Port Blair for treatment.
However, after some passengers informed Andaman Sheekha correspondent of Billyground about the issue, the matter was immediately highlighted to the District Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman.
Later because of excellent coordination between DC N& M Andaman, SP, N&M, AC Rangat, Dy.SP Rangat, Secretary Tribal Welfare, Station House Officer, Baratang Police Unit, the matter was resolved. Finally, the bus was allowed to cross the Middle Strait Check Post in a special convoy at 10:30 AM.
The delay in releasing the Government Bus is not the end of the conundrum, sources said, today not a single express bus headed towards the North and Middle Andaman today from Port Blair which has raised serious concerns among the residents of the region, neither there is any official confirmation whether any bus will be coming tomorrow from Port Blair.
The residents of N & M Andaman who have already registered their names at Port Blair ticketing counter to travel to North and Middle Andaman are still in a dilemma as they have not been informed about their Bus timing yet.
