Port Blair, Dec 09: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, the Member of Parliament, A & N Islands met with Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Shipping , Road Transport and Highways on 8/12/2014 and discussed on various issues of A & N Islands relating to the shipping, Road Transport and Highway Ministry. Issues which were discussed are construction of two bridges at Middle strait and Humphrey Strait and also construction of National Highway in 2 Lane for a length of 60 km road from Chidiyatapu to Jirkatang; Releasing of unspent balance CRF fund of Rs. 38.37 crores on account of Cess collected on diesel procurement, for its utilization in construction and up-gradation of state Highway which are now in dilapidated condition; Construction of bridge between Chatham and Bambooflat in the large interest of residents of rural area; Improvement of shipping service by strengthening the infrastructure and qualified Engineers to upgrade the repair & maintenance of ship. As there are numbers of Ships/Boats standing on queue since long time for entry in the dockyard to undertake the repair works; Construction of additional dry dock to facilitate the repair works of the Boats/Ships within a short span; Reinstatement of boat service/vehicle ferry services which have been discontinued due to damage of berthing jetties by Tsunami 2004, particularly the vehicle ferry services between Chatham Bambooflat , Uttra and Gandhi Ghat jetty and the ferry services between Middle strait and Oral Katcha, Junglighat and Mitha Khari, Hanspuri and Mayabunder and Kalighat and Mayabunder .
Apart from that, the Member of Parliament has also highlighted some other issues before the Minister such as Providing additional ferry services and passenger –cum- cargo Vessels services for Neil Island , Havelock , Rangat , Little Andaman , Mayabunder ,Long Island, Diglipur , Car Nicobar , Katchal , Kamorta , Teressa and Campbell bay to facilitate the tourism activity and also to boost the economic condition of the Islanders and introduction of new ferry services at Ganesh Nagar Shanti Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Jagannath derra, Paschimsagar under Diglipur Tehsil.
In pursuant to the discussion the Minister has taken up the Matter seriously and reportedly assured to take immediate action to sort-out the problem raised by the Member of Parliament. The Minister of MORT&H has further assured the Member of Parliament that he will take all possible effort to visit Andaman during Jan, 2015.
The Member of Parliament has also discussed the issue for construction of 2 Bridges at Humphry Strait and Middle Strait and also construction of 60 km road in two Lane of National Highway with the Secretary, Superintending Engineer and The Chief Engineer of the Ministry. The Chief Engineer assured that he will visit Port Blair along with the consultants to sort out the problems, such as environmental impact study Forest/CRZ clearance etc. for under taking the works, as the works cannot be awarded unless pre-requisite formulates are completed
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