Sri Vijaya Puram, April 6: Member of Parliament from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, has urged the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia to take immediate steps for laying direct Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connectivity to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) to ensure reliable internet services for residents and tourists.
In his communication, the MP highlighted the persistent issue of poor and unreliable internet connectivity in the Island, which continues to affect daily life, essential services, and the overall visitor experience. While nearby islands such as Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) have benefited from OFC connectivity, Neil Island still lacks adequate and fully reliable direct OFC infrastructure.
At present, telecom services on the island are largely dependent on indirect connectivity links from locations such as Shadipur, resulting in frequent network disruptions, slow internet speeds, and inconsistent coverage.
Shri Ray Hon’ble MP pointed out that such limitations not only inconvenience local residents but also negatively impact tourism, which is a key economic driver for the island. Visitors often face difficulties due to unstable internet services, affecting communication, digital payments, bookings, and overall travel experience.
He further noted that the matter had earlier been taken up with BSNL, A&N Telecom Circle; however, no significant improvement has been observed so far. Given the growing reliance on digital services and increasing tourist inflow, the demand for robust connectivity has become more urgent than ever.