Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Nov 09: In a call to action, the residents of North and Middle Andaman are advocating for the immediate resumption of regular helicopter services that have been notably disrupted over the past two months. This transportation lifeline, managed by Pawan Hans, has experienced operational setbacks following the reassignment of one helicopter to Maharashtra for extensive repairs, while another remains out of service due to routine maintenance expected to last at least 45 days.
Sources reveal that in the wake of this shortage, the available helicopters have been scheduled primarily to serve the Nicobar district, which is a fair move. This has brought problems for North and Middle Andaman as despite the fact that North and Middle Andaman have road connectivity the condition of NH4 is presently horrible. NH4’s current condition is so poor that it has become a source of distress for commuters, rendering road travel to be an arduous and nightmarish endeavor.
The people of North and Middle Andaman are urgently requesting that regular helicopter services be reinstated, as the road alternative is neither sufficient nor safe for those requiring prompt transit.
In the interim, scheduled ship services between Diglipur, Mayabunder, and Port Blair have provided some relief to the residents. However, for those needing to reach Port Blair urgently, the absence of helicopter services is keenly felt. There is a strong community consensus that an expedited solution is required.
The citizens are now looking toward the Chief Secretary to urgently address this issue with Pawan Hans and to facilitate the provision of at least two alternative helicopters for temporary service in Port Blair until Islands’ designated helicopters are restored to operational status.
