Port Blair, Sept 28: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma today requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration to operate atleast two ferry vessels each for Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep on daily basis.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, the Member of Parliament today mentioned that after the reopening of Tourism, slowly a large number of Tourists are now reaching Andaman but due to less number of vessels for Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, they are struggling to visit these two Tourist Hotspots.
This is not only causing inconvenience to the visiting Tourists but also causing loss to the people associated with Tourism Business in Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep. These people have already suffered heavy losses during the first and second waves of COVID-19 and now when there is a chance to earn some revenue, due to lack of sufficient number of ferry vessels, they are again suffering losses.
Adding to this, the common Islanders of Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep need to come to Port Blair for various needs viz treatment, education and other day to day works but due to lack of sufficient number of ships they are also finding it difficult to get tickets for the ferry vessels. Now, when the demand for tickets is more due to the pressure of tourism, common Islanders are also demanding more ferry vessels for Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.
Looking at problems being faced by Islanders and visiting tourists, the Member of the Parliament requested the Chief Secretary to issue necessary directions to the Directorate of Shipping Services to operate atleast two ferry vessels each for Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep on daily basis.
