Port Blair, Sept 19: Highlighting the problems being faced by people of Bambooflat, Wimberlygunj, Hope Town, Stewartgunj, Shore Point, Panighat, Mannarghat, Wright Myo, Shoal Bay and nearby areas, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has demanded more Vehicle Ferry Vessels between Chatham and Bambooflat and more normal Ferry between Marine and Bambooflat.
In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament mentioned that a large population of the South Andaman region resides in Bambooflat, Wimberlygunj, Hope Town, Stewartgunj, Shore Point, Panighat, Mannarghat, Wright Myo, Shoal Bay and nearby areas and for them vehicle ferry vessels are the shortest mean to reach Port Blair city with their vehicles for various purposes like Office works, Education, Medical needs, day-to-day works etc.
But presently due to shortage of vehicle ferry vessels, now the sailings of vehicle ferry vessels between Chatham and Bambooflat have been reduced considerably.
The MP added that although in peak hours services of two vehicle-ferry vessels have been provided but in the daytime, only one vehicle ferry is being operated between Bambooflat and Chatham. Moreover, transfer of four-wheelers on vehicle ferry has been totally prohibited for reason unknown, which is causing huge inconvenience to daily commuters.
The MP pointed out that people of Bambooflat, Wimberlygunj, Hope Town, Stewartgunj, Shore Point, Panighat, Mannarghat, Wright Myo, Shoal Bay and nearby areas, with four-wheelers, who have to come to Port Blair for urgent works are now unable to reach Port Blair by vehicle ferry and hence they have to take the longer road-route, which is not only time consuming but also painful, because of horrible road conditions. Adding to this the normal ferry service between Marine and Bambooflat has also been reduced considerably causing hardship for office going staffs, people who are working in private business houses and shops.
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma mentioned that now to avail ordinary ferry these people have to come all the way to Chatham from Aberdeen Bazaar area, which is again both, time-consuming and expensive.
Considering all these problems being faced by people of Bambooflat, Wimberlygunj, Hope Town, Stewartgunj, Shore Point, Panighat, Mannarghat, Wright Myo, Shoal Bay and nearby areas, the Member of Parliament requested the CS to provide more vehicle ferry vessels from early morning to late night between Chatham and Bambooflat and also I request you to kindly increase the number of normal ferry vessels between Marine and Bambooflat, especially during the starting and closing of business hours, so that the daily earners, who are working in shops, hotels, restaurants, construction sites etc. can avail ferry for Bambooflat from Marine Jetty.
The MP also requested the CS to issue necessary directions to the Directorate of Shipping Services to repair all the vehicle ferry vessels, which are non-operational for a long time for minor faults and to keep these vehicle ferry vessels on stand-by for emergency deployment.
