Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Nov 07: Situated at Ritchie’s Archipelago, Neil and Havelock Islands are always considered as two sisters but sadly for unknown reasons these two Islands get two different kind of treatment from A & N Administration. As focus of A & N Administration remains mainly towards Havelock Island, residents of Neil Island feel themselves totally neglected.
Residents of Neil Islands now allege that the Administration shows step-motherly attitude towards the Island and this is the reason why development process has taken a back seat in the tiny Island.
For example, everyday on an average four vessels are sent for Havelock from Port Blair while Neil Island gets only one exclusive vessel everyday (morning 0630 hrs sailing). The second vessels which reaches Neil Island (1130 hrs sailing), is actually shared by passengers of Neil and Havelock, as the vessels goes to Havelock after touching Neil Island. On return the second vessels reaches Neil Island from Havelock at 1500 hrs and by that time the vessels remains almost fully occupied by Port Blair Bound passengers from Havelock and hence passengers and tourists from Neil Island often do not get seat in the second vessels.
“Tourism in Neil Island is growing and tourists prefers to arrive at Neil in morning sailing of 0630 hrs and return to Port Blair by 1500 hrs sailing, which comes from Havelock but due to shortage of seats, often their travel plans get messed up,” said an angry tour operator of Neil Island.
PRI members allege that more than tourists the local residents are suffering because of this weird sailing schedule, which have been forced on Neil Island residents.
“Those who wish to go to Port Blair by 1500 hrs sailing always remain uncertain as many often fail to board the vessel, as the vessel always remain jam-packed with Havelock Passengers,” a PRI members told Andaman Sheekha.
Residents of Neil Island are now demanding for one more late evening exclusive sailing for Neil Island so that traveling to Neil Island becomes easy for both local residents and tourists.
When Contacted the Deputy Director of Shipping Mr. R Veeraiah avoided giving direct answer to Andaman Sheekha’s question.
It seems that the Directorate of Shipping Services is still struggling to understand how many passengers avails the evening and morning sailing of DSS from Neil Island.
“We have already tied up with PMB. The PMB has given us a space for opening up a new ticket counter at Neil Island. Once Ticket Counter is opened we would understand how many passengers are waiting at Neil Island jetty and if there is a need to send an additional ferry. We are here to solve the problems but there are lot of constrains,” the Deputy Director added.
