Sri Vijaya Puram, June 24: The central government has ordered an emergency overhaul of 15 key jetties across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after a technical review raised alarms over their deteriorating structural condition. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has tasked the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works (ALHW) with immediately inspecting these jetties and preparing a detailed proposal for repair and restoration. These maritime facilities are crucial lifelines for the archipelago, which depends heavily on sea routes for the transport of people, goods, and essential services. A failure of any of these jetties would severely disrupt connectivity and emergency response in several island communities.
The intervention follows sustained local concern and a formal representation from Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who urged that maintenance responsibilities be handed back to ALHW. Until 2018, the agency was in charge of port upkeep, but that year, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration transferred the responsibility to the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD). Since then, according to industry experts, the maintenance standards have reportedly declined, with APWD hampered by a shortage of skilled personnel and limited experience in marine infrastructure.
The 15 jetties identified as vulnerable include Haddo Wharf Berths I to IV, Chatham Wharf, Hope Town Wharf (Old), Viper Jetty, Bambooflat Jetty, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (NSCB) Jetty, Vehicle Ferry Jetty at Chatham, Dundus Point Jetty, Shaheed Dweep (Old) Jetty, and Phoenix Bay Jetty in South Andaman; Yeratta Jetty, Mayabunder Wharf, East Island Jetty, and Rangat Bay in North and Middle Andaman; and Kamorta Jetty in the Nancowry group of islands. Many of these structures have shown signs of corrosion, foundation weakening, and wear-and-tear, especially in areas like Hope Town and Mayabunder, where jetty traffic remains high and regular maintenance has been patchy at best.
Alongside the jetty repairs, the administration has stepped up efforts to improve shipping infrastructure more broadly. Two key passenger-cargo vessels, MV Swaraj Dweep and MV Kalighat, are undergoing dry dock repairs at Cochin Shipyard Limited’s yard in Kolkata, while MV Bharat Seema is being serviced in Mumbai. Several smaller vessels are being repaired at the Marine Dockyard in Sri Vijaya Puram, where CSL has established a dedicated repair facility to speed up turnaround times and reduce service interruptions.
In response to ongoing delays and equipment breakdowns, the administration has also asked ALHW to take over the maintenance of cargo handling equipment across the islands. In a parallel initiative, the Port Management Board is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chennai Port Authority to modernize port operations and upgrade the cargo management systems.
Residents and shipping operators have repeatedly flagged the poor condition of jetties, especially in outer islands where communities have no alternative transport links. A resident from Kamorta noted that with every heavy rain or high tide, boarding and unloading become riskier. “We have no bridges and no airports. Our jetties are our only link to the world. If they go, so do we,” he said. For many, this emergency intervention is not just about concrete and steel; it’s about safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and basic mobility.
The overhaul also comes amid a broader debate over infrastructure priorities in the islands. While the central government has allocated large budgets to marquee projects such as the proposed ₹72,000 crore transshipment hub in Great Nicobar, critics point to the neglect of basic infrastructure in inhabited islands. The emergency jetty repairs mark an important corrective, but experts caution that without consistent funding, skilled manpower, and regular oversight, the islands may soon face similar crises again.
With ALHW now reinstated and assessments underway, residents hope that these essential maritime structures will finally receive the attention and care they have long lacked. For a scattered island territory like Andaman and Nicobar, where every tide and trip matters, even a short delay in repairs can ripple into prolonged hardship.
