Port Blair, Dec 26: Considering the ever growing demand for rooms at Chennai from Islanders, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to direct the Andaman PWD to complete this project as soon as possible so that it brings relief for Islanders visiting Chennai.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, ANI, the Member of Parliament mentioned that Andaman and Nicobar Islands have two ‘Andaman House’ buildings at Anna Nagar and KK Nagar areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. These ‘Andaman House’ buildings were constructed or taken on lease for the convenience of people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who visit Chennai for various reasons like Education, Treatment, Jobs, Sports events, Transit, tour etc.
He said that for people who hail from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Chennai is the main transit point and they require rooms at Chennai for transit journey, while going to their homeland and also during their return journey. Patients and students require rooms at Chennai for longer duration.
He added that other than that thousands of Islanders visit Chennai on a daily basis but there are only 22 rooms available for Islanders at KK Nagar Guest House and only 4 rooms + some dormitories are available at Anna Nagar Guest House, which are grossly inadequate for Islanders visiting Chennai.
The Member of Parliament pointed out that on an average there are nearly 50 applications for rooms In Andaman House at Chennai in a day but there are only 26 rooms available in total. Other than this a large number of people visiting Chennai do not even apply for rooms, knowing fully well about the shortage of rooms in Andaman House Buildings and they have to stay in private hotels and rooms, paying exorbitant rates.
He pointed out that nearly 25 years back Andaman and Nicobar Administration had purchased 1.02 hectare of prime land at Pallikaranai locality of Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu for construction of third Andaman House. The prime land is hardly 750 mtrs away from Velachery Railway Station. In the year 2007 a compound wall was erected around the said land but after that no construction works were carried out in the said land.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that he strongly believes that if this third Andaman House is constructed, it will bring great relief for Islanders visiting Chennai, especially students and patients, who have to stay for a longer duration and for multiple times in Chennai and have to pay a huge amount to hotels and other accommodations.
