Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Sept 18: In a rather very shocking development, the Directorate of Shipping Services has fixed the fare of ferry between Port Blair Baratang Island, to whopping Rs. 500, even for Islanders. As a matter of fact no Islander fare is applicable in this ferry.
Such sudden move has come as a great shock for remote Islanders, especially those who are living in Baratang Island as Rs. 500 is astronomically high fare for Islanders.
This is worth mentioning here that the Baratang ferry was started following Supreme Court’s order of starting an alternative route to Baratang Island but the efforts made by Andaman and Nicobar Administration seems to be completely half hearted, as such decision to hike rate of ferry ticket in one route will not accepted by any Islanders.
As a result very less passengers are using this ferry to reach Baratang. From the side of Baratang, earlier this ferry was greatly used Islanders but now there are hardly any passengers because of the excessive high rate of the tickets, which according to public is totally unjustified.
When ferry ticket rate from Port Blair to Havelock is nearly Rs. 60 and Port Blair and Diglipur is nearly Rs. 140, how the rate between Port Blair and Baratang can be Rs. 500, questions PRI members of Baratang region.
Raising strong objection in this case, the Zilla Parishad member of Zilla Parishad, Mr. Alagar Swami, has urged the Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary to look into this matter and introduce Islander ferry fare in Baratang region so that Islanders can also use this ferry.
“Earlier, when the fare was Rs.50, this ferry was a great hit among the villagers of Baratang region but this time the rate of ticket has been raised to Rs. 500, which is not at all affordable for poor villagers of this region. The Administration must introduce Islander fare in this region. Who is the authority to withdraw Islander fare in this route?” Mr. Alagar Swami questioned.
PRI members also question whether this ferry service, which has no taker, has been re-started as an eye wash for Supreme Court. “There is hardly any passenger in this ferry and after few months sighting this, the Administration will stop this ferry, is this eyewash?” Mr. Alagar Swami pointed out.
Surprisingly the new service was also not given wide publicity in media for reasons unknown.
Andaman Sheekha today tried to contact the Director of Shipping Service to get a comment on this issue but he was unavailable for a comment.
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