Port Blair, Feb 01: On the issue of construction of Bridge connecting Bambooflat with Chatham, the State President of BJP R Mohan had written a letter to the Home Minister, Govt of India, New Delhi, the Lt Governor, ANI with copies to the leader of opposition Mrs Sushma Swaraj, MP, New Delhi and the Chief Secretary, ANI.
In his letter Mohan requested the HM to persuade this matter of construction of a bridge connecting Bambooflat to Chatham at all appropriate levels.
“If the administration wishes PPP or BOT method for construction of the bridge could be explored. We are sure there will be entrepreneurs willing to invest in this service sector,” Mohan said in his letter.
He said that such bridge will provide seamless connectivity and prove to be a life line for the entire population residing in the rural South Andaman including those who are referred from Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur area for specialized treatment at GB Pant Hospital Port Blair, thereby raising the quality of life.
“The tourist locations especially Mount Harriet, North Bay and the lesser known Shoal Bay could be promoted thereby increasing employment potential and the tourism industry will get the much needed boost in rural South Andaman as well. The bridge will also motivate population to migrate to the rural South Andaman, which will help in decongesting the already chocked Port Blair city,” Mohan said in his letter.
The A & N State President of BJP added that every year huge amount of money is spent on Procurement, Maintenance and Operational cost on large fleet of boats and revenue loss due to enormous amount of subsidy being rendered to commuters.
“The whole loss incurring as on date could be a revenue generator if a bridge comes to existence in the said route. The cost incurred for construction of such bridge could be retrieved by imposing Toll-tax as being followed in mainland. Such bridge could last for at-least 100 to 150 years as compared to boats/ships each of which costs to crores of rupees and runs on enormous amount of HSD, stock of which is ever depleting and is certain to dry up sooner or later,” Mohan added.
