Port Blair, Feb 23: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma yesterday (22.02.2022) called on the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration and requested him to direct the concerned departments to resume ‘Line-Boat’ between Port Blair and Rangat via Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Long Island for the benefit of Islanders.
He told the Chief Secretary that that during his recent visit to North and Middle Andaman and also during his present visit to Shaheed and Swaraj Dweep, he has been approached by a large number of Islanders, who are suffering heavily since last many months due to withdrawal of the ‘Line Boat’, which used to go to Rangat from Port Blair via Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Long Island.
He informed that before lockdowns a ferry used to connect all these Islands and hence previously people from these Islands were able to travel from one Island to the other, within a few hours and with minimum expenditure.
The Member of Parliament pointed out that now in absence of the said ferry service people of remote Islands have to come to Port Blair first, halt at Port Blair for Bus/ferry tickets and then travel to other Islands, which cost more than Rs.2000 to Rs. 2500 per head.
He mentioned that due to marriages and migration, thousands of people living in Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep, Rangat and Long Island have family members as well as close relatives living in other Islands. For these reasons, they have to frequently travel between Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep, Rangat and Long Island but due to absence of ‘Line-Boat’ their movement is now largely restricted and also has become too expensive.
The Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing and assured the Member of Parliament to look into this matter.
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