Vikramaditya
Port Blair, June 04: Link-down with striking regularity in STARS counter of Little Andaman has become a constant source of discomfort for the passengers.
Since last two days people are reaching the STARS counter of Little Andaman just to hear that the tickets can’t be issued because the internet link is down.
As link of the STARS counter is down tickets can’t be issued from other CSC counters also and hence people have no other option than visiting the counter everyday.
“The ship is scheduled on 6th of June for Port Blair and tomorrow is the only day left for tickets. Even if tomorrow tickets are issued manually there is no guarantee that we will get tickets. This is a time of crisis and hence special arrangements must be made for public to issue tickets in advance, so that public can plan their journey properly,” a resident of Little Andaman said.
This is not the first such case, earlier also similar problems were noticed in previous sailings and on the very last day manual tickets were issued, which obviously is not a very transparent and public friendly process.
When contacted an official related to the ticketing counter told Andaman Sheekha said that STARS counter of Little Andaman gets, internet link from nearby unit of Polytechnic. He said that he has already intimated the head office about the problem.
Residents of the Island allege that when Shipping is the life line of the Island and STARS counter holds so much importance why can’t DSS provide alternate modems and connections in STARS Counters in remote Islands.
“When internet connections in other places of Little Andaman are working, why the internet connection of the STARS counter remains down, nobody knows,” said a source.
