Sri Vijaya Puram, July 27: Sensing the mobility need of people and fulfilling it by providing a reliable bus transport service has been the priority for Transport Department of Andaman & Nicobar Administration. With the recent construction of a new road from Chunna Bhatta to North Bay, road connectivity has now been established. Transport Department received requests from the local PRIs as well as Hon’ble Member of Parliament to provide bus connectivity between Bambooflat and North Bay.
Thus, with the available resources, Transport Department mobilized its fleet and decided to provide bus service from Bambooflat to North Bay via Chunna Bhatta.
In an event held today at Chunna Bhatta, Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, Secretary, Transport, along with Shri. Jatinder Sohal, Director of Transport flagged off the first bus service to North Bay in the presence of local PRI members and general public of Bambooflat and Chuna Bhatta Gram Panchayat.
While flagging off the first bus service, Secretary, Transport appreciated the efforts of Transport Department in extending the bus service facility upto North Bay and also emphasized the importance of this service which pass through the picturesque coastal road. This service will not only be beneficial to numerous SHGs which have set up their stalls at North Bay but also be useful for other local residents. Tourists will be immensely benefitted from this service which is not only reliable but also affordable. This will be an added transport option for the tourists who were earlier dependent on a single mode to reach North Bay. She assured the local public that Administration will continue to fulfill their aspirations.
Director of Transport in his address appreciated the sensitivity showed towards the needs of general public on the mobility needs and thanked them for bringing it to the knowledge of Department. He further exhorted all to use the public transportation facility being provided by the Transport Department & urged to promote the Islands through social media. Even though resources are limited but Administration will continue to take all efforts to see that the needs of people are fulfilled.
The function was also attended by Ms. Mariam Bibi, Zilla Parishad Member, Smti Rasheeda Bibi, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Hopetown, Shri Laxmi Narayan, Samiti Member, Hope Town Panchayat, Shri Shiv Chander Maurya, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Bambooflat-I. The Zilla Parishad Member while thanking the Transport Department from the side of PRIs said that the SHGs and local public will be benefitted from this service and this will prove to be a factor in enhancing the tourism activities in North Bay.
Earlier, Deputy Director, Shri B. Binoy welcomed the guests and public, and briefed the Administration’s vision to provide last mile connectivity. Vote of thanks was delivered by Assistant Director (Transport), Shri. Sanjiv Kumar Singh. This new bus service is a significant step towards improving transportation in the area and will greatly benefit both locals and tourists alike. Initially, the bus service to North Bay will be operated at 9.30 AM, 11.30 am and at 5.30 PM from Bambooflat Bus Terminus.