Port Blair, Nov. 10: Former State President, BJP, Shri. Vishal Jolly has demanded restoration of Pre-Covid movement of public transportation, remove restrictions, increase in the number of boats for tourists as well as local inhabitants to providing hassle free environment to the islanders as well as to the tourists arriving in large numbers.

In his letter to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration Jolly wrote that the Islanders as well as tourists are facing acute hardship and problems due to non-availability of adequate number of boats to avail to and from journey for Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Little Andaman, Campbell Bay route, Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat, Baratang, Long Islands etc. Without increasing the number of passenger ship/boats adequately to satisfy the requirements of the general public as well as the tourism industry, the financial condition of the islanders cannot be rebuild and the people will continue to suffer irreparable losses he added.

He mentioned that the travelling restrictions are still very much in force for the movement of public in so far as inter islands are concerned. The incoming passengers from mainland require merely two doses certificate indicating completion of 15 days of vaccination, whereas for travelling to inter islands there exist other restrictions.

All those travelling restrictions can be relaxed to the best possible way for encouraging the tourists and entrepreneurs. Apart from tourists, the local inhabitants of inter islands too are facing severe hardships due to unwanted travel restrictions, which may be either waived or relaxed to the possible extent. Consequently, the number of Convoys also needs to be increased manifold.

Jolly also informed that after almost two years, a ray of hope was sighted and the islanders dependent on tourism got relief witnessing heavy tourist arrivals. Each of them had sustained heavy losses due to the pandemic and now when everything was appearing to get normal, unfortunately the tourists are thrown out to face acute hardship in travelling upto various tourist destinations. This will send a wrong signal to the potential tourists who plan to visit these islands.

The former State President, BJP thus requested the Chief Secretary to take appropriate steps to restore Pre-Covid movement of public and encourage tourists as well as tourism industry.