Port Blair, Nov. 3: The State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Shri. Ajoy Bairagi has written to the Lt. Governor of A&N Islands and the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District requesting them to resume the shipping and helicopter services to Hut Bay.

Bairagi apprised that college counselling in various institutions are being held and because of the non-availability of shipping and helicopter services the students will not be able to attend the college counselling. He reminded the authorities that the counselling of students are not only scheduled in the colleges of Andaman and Nicobar Islands but also mainland India and if shipping services and helicopter services are not resumed these students will lose one academic year of their life.

He also raised the issues of the patients who had visited Port Blair from Hut Bay and are stuck in Port Blair because of non-availability of shipping and helicopter services from Port Blair to Hut Bay. Several patients are also waiting in Hut Bay, to visit Port Blair for treatment and if shipping and helicopter services are not provided to them it may pose danger to their life and health.

Bairagi said that presently the helicopter services are only being utilised for medical services from Hut Bay and requested the authorities to start additional helicopter services for public use.

He also reminded the authorities that the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs are making life easier for the public throughout the country. Bairagi also raised the issues of the farmers, vegetable growers, milk vendors who are also facing hardship in transporting their surplus produce from Hutbay and are facing huge losses because of that.