DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, June 30: Since last many years people living in Diglipur Island have been demanding for daily boat service in Port Blair – Diglipur Sector, which still appears to be a distant dream.
Whenever the question is raised by public, PRI’s and political leaders, it is dismissed by administration, which says that when Diglipur already got bus services there is no urgency of daily boat service.
It is observed that often announced vessels are not plying as per schedule published by Directorate of Shipping Services. Recently on Saturday 28th, June as per Shipping Schedule M V Choldhari was supposed to sail from Diglipur. The Tickets were also issued in the name of the said vessel and it was supposed to leave the Aerial Bay Jetty of Diglipur at night 9 O’clock.
When some passengers reached the jetty around 8PM to their utter shock they found that there was no vessel at jetty. On enquiry it was revealed that instead of MV Choldhari, M V Daring sailed on the said date and it left the Aerial Bay Jetty at 5 PM as per its jetty leaving time.
Andaman Sheekha team tried to contact officials at Dilgipur but there was no staff of PMB or DSS to answer to media or passengers. For the troubled passengers their problems did not end at Jetty. Another big shock was waiting for them at Diglipur Bazaar, when they returned.
As the schools are about to reopen, not a single bus ticket to Port Blair for next day was available for them. Left with no other option the passengers including elderly people children have to travel to Port Blair in bus with a standing ticket.
Insiders alleged that the DSS sometimes ply the vessels, which did not complete the Annual Survey. To adjust the sailing they issue shipping schedule as per Survey on papers but ply the ships which are not surveyed.
This could be major blow to the security and safety aspect of passengers, in case any accident occurs. No one from DSS was available immediately for a comment in this regard.
