Sri Vijaya Puram, October 10: Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has directed upgrades to healthcare and school infrastructure on Swaraj Dweep, while announcing ₹19 crore for road construction and calling for time-bound action on residents’ grievances during a two-day visit that began on October 9.
During inspections and a public interaction programme, Dr. Dinesh Sharma reviewed medical services, school facilities, passenger amenities and tourism infrastructure. He directed officials to initiate the process of upgrading the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Govind Nagar to a Community Health Centre (CHC), construct additional accommodation for healthcare staff and address pending equipment and service requirements.
At the PHC, Dr. Dinesh Sharma interacted with patients and reviewed medicine availability, staffing and plans for a Jan Aushadhi Kendra. He called for installing an automatic analyser capable of conducting 40 types of tests, repairing the X-ray machine, providing computers and Wi-Fi, and commissioning a generator set whose installation had remained pending for two years. He also directed authorities to begin operation theatre services and initiate recruitment of specialist doctors.
The healthcare facility is to receive 10 additional rooms for doctors and medical staff. At the Government Senior Secondary School in Govind Nagar, Dr. Dinesh Sharma directed the construction of four additional rooms, repairs to teachers’ quarters and the use of one room as an Anganwadi Centre. He also called for action on a badminton court, a school van and the introduction of Commerce as a subject.
At the Seaport Terminal, Dr. Dinesh Sharma reviewed passenger facilities and directed officials to provide adequate parking to ease congestion. He said efforts would be made to obtain Central Government approval for a proposed new jetty on the island. In the presence of Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, he flagged off three air-conditioned Hop-On Hop-Off buses, which will allow tourists to visit destinations across Swaraj Dweep throughout the day for a single fare.
Water supply and road connectivity also featured in the review. Dr. Dinesh Sharma laid the foundation stone for a two-lakh-litre overhead water tank intended to strengthen supplies to Krishna Nagar, Shyam Nagar and Vijay Nagar. He also announced ₹19 crore for road construction from the jetty to Kalapathar and Radhanagar, along with the operationalisation of a 2 MW power plant and the upgradation of the Govind Nagar Fish Market at a cost of ₹40 lakh.
At a ‘Jan Samvad’ programme at the Panchayat Community Hall in Shyam Nagar, residents raised demands for a cremation ground at Vijay Nagar, highlighted problems faced by water sports operators at Elephant Beach and sought road repairs in Krishna Nagar. Dr. Dinesh Sharma directed officials to address grievances promptly and act on development proposals within prescribed timelines and procedures.
Later, Dr. Dinesh Sharma laid the foundation stone for three additional classrooms at Government Secondary School in Krishna Nagar. He also inspected Radhanagar Beach, the islands’ only Blue Flag-certified beach, and directed officials to address parking, public amenities and safety concerns.
The review meeting at the start of the visit covered development works, waste management, law and order and pending public grievances. Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman; the secretaries of Transport, Tourism and Education; the Superintendent of Police, South Andaman; the Director of Rural Development; the Sub-Divisional Officer; Gram Pradhan Ajit Kumar Ray; and other public representatives and officials attended the programme, according to a Lok Niwas press release.
