Baratang, Feb. 24: During his visit to Baratang on Feb. 20 & 21, under the ongoing initiative ‘Sampark se Samadhan – Prashasan Gaon ki Ore,’ the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, Shri Sushant Padha, IAS held a series of meetings with members of the Fibre Boat Association, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives and officials/contractors of NHIDCL to review various developmental issues concerning tourism, infrastructure and public amenities.
In order to boost tourism in Baratang, the Deputy Commissioner held detailed interactions with members of the Fibre Boat Association and representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. During the discussions, key proposals viz; improvement of jetty and cave area infrastructure, strengthening of safety and visitor amenities, better regulation and facilitation of boat services, and development of Baludera Beach as an emerging tourist destination were put forth. The stakeholders also emphasized the need for improved sea connectivity, particularly the proposed Baludera–Swaraj Dweep route with linkage to Long Island, which is expected to significantly increase tourist footfall. The Deputy Commissioner appreciated the proactive inputs and assured that the suggestions would be examined in consultation with the concerned Departments for feasible implementation.
The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the progress of ongoing road and bridge works with NHIDCL officials, including the status of piling works and project timelines. Directions were issued to expedite pending works, address local concerns at Sundergarh, Adazig, Nilambur Jetty and Kadamtala and ensure installation of appropriate safety measures near educational and health institutions.
A separate meeting was convened with the Divisional Forest Officer and Revenue officials to deliberate on long-pending forest and revenue land disputes affecting development in Baratang. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for lawful and practical solutions to facilitate progress.
The Deputy Commissioner assured that all issues raised would be examined in coordination with the concerned Departments for necessary action, reiterating the Administration’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and promoting sustainable development in Baratang and adjoining areas.
The Deputy Commissioner visited remote villages including Khattakhari, Wrafter’s Creek, Rajatgarh, Nayagarh, Lorojig (EFA) and Sundergarh, interacting directly with residents to assess ground realities and hear grievances firsthand. The visit reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to last-mile governance and inclusive development. This initiative will be extended to all remaining villages across the district in the coming months.
The “Sampark se Samadhan – Prashasan Gaon ki Ore” initiative continues to strengthen the connect between the Administration and citizens, ensuring that governance and public services reach every doorstep in North & Middle Andaman.