Sri Vijaya Puram, March 30: The President of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee, Shri. Rangalal Halder, has appealed to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands to urgently introduce weekly passenger ship services between Port Blair and the mainland cities of Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam, and vice versa.
In a representation submitted to the Hon’ble LG, Shri. Halder highlighted the severe difficulties being faced by the residents of the Islands due to the steep rise in airfares and the limited availability of passenger ship services. He pointed out that the situation has become increasingly challenging for the common people, especially patients referred to mainland hospitals for specialized treatment, students, and those belonging to economically weaker sections.
He further stated that the existing ship services are inadequate in both frequency and capacity, which has worsened the travel hardships of the Islanders. The recent fluctuations in global crises, influenced by geopolitical tensions and conflicts in the Middle East, have also contributed to the surge in airfares, placing an additional financial burden on the public.
Shri. Halder emphasized that the introduction of weekly ship services would provide a much-needed affordable and reliable mode of transportation for the people of the Islands. He also urged to ensure sufficient passenger capacity, regular scheduling, and timely dissemination of sailing information to facilitate better travel planning, particularly for patients and their attendants.