People of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are often considered as soft spoken and highly docile individuals. This is perhaps the reason why even after several decades of Independence Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not get an assembly yet.

Often local residents claim that due to some incapable, coward and corrupt political leaders, people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are being ruled by those, who have limited knowledge about Andaman and Nicobar Islands and feelings of Islanders.

After former Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, now more and more public leaders are coming out in open and raising this issue of injustice infront public. In recent few interviews the former Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was very vocal against some recent decisions of Administration.

Now the present Adhyaksh of South Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. Subir Chander has also come out in open to raise voice of public. In his recent twitter message he wrote about how a few top officers are behaving roughly with local residents and misbehaving with public.

“4.5 lakh Islanders,21 IAS,16 IPS&55 DANIC/PS, some are gentle & caring but some are rough, misbehaving with public. They unaware of logistics and local problems, working without feedback, taking unilateral decision. People raising this voice to me,” he wrote in a twitter message today.

Recently talking to Andaman Sheekha, the SA ZP Adhyaksha also expressed his anguish over delay in brining stranded Islanders to Andaman.

“Had these Islands have an Assembly and a Chief Minister, they would have fought hard to bring the stranded Islanders from the mainland, hence, it is high time now to think about it and fight for our existence,” Mr. Chander said.

He also raised concerns over the present working style of Administration in which local leaders are not even consulted on the issue of bringing stranded Islanders from Mainland India. He said that on one hand local leaders are facing the anger of stranded Islanders in Mainland India and their family members, and on the other hand, the Administration is not sharing any information with public representatives, on this issue.

Since third phase of lockdown with relaxation was declared in Port Blair City, people started coming out of their home in large numbers violating social distancing norms, in many cases.
Gathering of huge number of people was seen in Prem Nagar and Bathubasti areas. The scene was no different in other areas as well.
Many people didn’t wear face masks risking the life of others. Some well educated people ventured out of their house in own vehicles with a photocopy of a pass, (nobody knows on whose name) pasted on the windscreen of the vehicle.
Police Jawans at Checkposts also allowed all vehicles with a photocopy of pass pasted on the windscreen to pass through, in many occasions, without verifying the authenticity. This allowed many more to adopt this method.
This was clearly evident in Bathubasti junction, Prem Nagar Area and Light House junction, which are the three major junctions within the city.
It seems, that presently those without pass are also enjoying the freedom to the fullest.
If this situation continues, it may result in problem in near future. Andaman Nicobar Police needs to pull-up their socks before the situation gets out of control and all their efforts to make the islanders free from COVID-19 goes in vain.
Presently only the Police can save the Islanders. Everyone should remember that entire South Andaman is still in Red Zone.

Growing number of vehicles on Andaman Roads has made things difficult for people of these islands. Almost everyday Port Blairians witness traffic Jams in main bazaar area as, everyday more and more vehicles are entering in Andamans but roads are same, as they were nearly two decade back.

Even though the road from Ganesh Temple to Ratnam market has been made one way for three and four wheelers, but still one can see that during evening hours, it becomes impossible to cross the road with even two wheelers.

During opening and closing of schools, all hell breaks loose in Port Blair roads.

“The city roads were never designed to bear such a load of traffic and hence we must think of some alternatives. It seems flyovers are the best option,” said a prominent citizen of Port Blair.

Traffic chaos is the most obvious side effect of urban sprawling in any city of the world and it seems Port Blair is now suffering from this side effect.

Passing though the city roads, Port Blairians also face nightmare especially during office hours and in the evening when people are going home.

This is high time for Administration to get up from deep slumber and plan things keeping future in mind and construct atleast half a dozen of flyovers.