A public meeting was held at Bambooflat Jetty on December 16, 2025, to highlight the persistent hardships faced by residents due to ongoing connectivity disruptions linked to the Chatham Bridge issue.
Organized by Movement Paani Paar Ki Awaaz, the meeting brought together local residents, commuters, and representatives who highlighted the daily challenges faced by people who are compelled to walk across the bridge. Speakers drew attention to the difficulties encountered by patients seeking medical care, workers dependent on regular transportation, and residents relying on ferry services for essential travel, while also emphasizing the need to open the alternative jetty at Chatham to alleviate the connectivity crisis.
Addressing the gathering, Vishal Jolly spoke about the long-standing transport difficulties in Bambooflat, particularly in the absence of adequate ferry services. He referred to his recent interaction with the Chief Secretary regarding the newly constructed jetty at Bambooflat, on which an estimated ₹100–150 crore was reportedly spent. Despite the investment, he noted that the jetty has remained largely unused for nearly a decade.
According to Jolly, the jetty was reportedly operational for docking for only about two years. He questioned the purpose of constructing a slipway if it is not being used for docking vehicle ferries and said that the reasons behind its non-functionality remain unclear.
Raising concerns over the official explanation provided by the administration, Jolly stated that authorities have cited “technical issues” as the reason for the jetty being non-operational. He questioned why the jetty was permitted to be constructed if it was not technically suitable for docking boats, and demanded an inquiry if the administration’s claims are accurate.
The issue of ferry timings was also raised during the meeting. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS), urged the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to extend the last vehicle ferry service from Marine Jetty to Bambooflat until 9 pm, instead of the current 7 pm schedule. He pointed out that vehicle ferries often fail to accommodate all vehicles in a single trip, forcing commuters to travel long distances by road late at night to reach their homes.
Meanwhile, Angshuman Roy, State General Secretary (Youth) of Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS), appealed to residents to support the movement in the interest of the larger public good. Describing the Bambooflat–Chatham boat service as the lifeline of the area, Roy said bridge-related disruptions have compelled residents to walk nearly one kilometre every day, including patients suffering from serious health conditions.
The Movement Paani Paar Ki Awaaz committee also appealed to the general public of Bambooflat to extend support to an upcoming movement planned in the coming days, warning that intensified public action would follow if the administration fails to fulfil the demands raised at the meeting.
Transport connectivity has long been a critical issue in several island and coastal areas, where geographical constraints and infrastructure limitations often affect service reliability. In Bambooflat, residents argue that these challenges have now reached a point where routine life is being significantly disrupted.
Several residents and commuters present echoed similar concerns and urged the administration to take immediate steps to restore safe and reliable transport connectivity for the people of Bambooflat.
