Port Blair, Oct. 4: Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party has written to the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration requesting him to discontinue the need for RAT for Inter-District Travel in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Bairagi mentioned that the vaccination drive is continuing successfully in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He further mentioned that the Islands have achieved 100% first dose vaccination. He further mentioned the recent exemption from tests given to the doubly vaccinated individuals who have completed two weeks from the second dose of vaccination for travel from the mainland to the Islands, is a welcome step.

He also mentioned that currently, Islanders have to pay Rs. 100/- for RAT for inter-district travel. He added that the pandemic has brought several hardships for everyone both financially and mentally. Residents of far-flung Islands have to visit Port Blair due to various reasons because of the facilities available at Port Blair.

He requested the Chief Secretary to look into the issue and do the needful by discontinuing RAT for Inter-District travel keeping in view the minimal COVID-19 active cases as well as the vaccination status of the Islands.