In a significant stride toward inclusive infrastructure development, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has launched the first-ever State Transport Bus Service to connect the remote villages of Ganesh Nagar and Shantinagar in Diglipur Tehsil. The move ends more than two decades of isolation for these areas, which had been notified as de-reserved blocks as far back as 2002 but lacked basic road connectivity and public transport.
The inaugural run was flagged off by the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur in the presence of local panchayat leaders, PRI members, and enthusiastic villagers who had gathered to witness the long-awaited moment. The launch was the result of a push during a high-level meeting held on June 27, 2025, chaired by the Chief Secretary and attended by senior officials from the Transport and Rural Development Departments. The issue of connectivity had been vocally raised by the Pradhan of Gandhinagar during that meeting.
Residents of Ganesh Nagar and Shantinagar, particularly school-going children who previously faced long, unreliable commutes to access higher secondary education in Diglipur, located nearly 40 km away, are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of the new service. The Assistant Commissioner described the launch as a milestone for the region and termed the bus a “lifeline” for the youth and working population alike.
For years, lack of access to transport had been a persistent challenge in the region, affecting everything from school attendance and access to healthcare, to employment opportunities and market linkages. With the new service, residents can now expect more reliable access to essential services available in the sub-divisional headquarters.
Local response to the initiative was overwhelmingly positive, with villagers lauding the administration for delivering on a demand that had lingered unresolved for decades. Many expressed hope that this would be a harbinger of more development projects aimed at uplifting the region.
Officials from the Transport Department stated that the route will be monitored over the coming weeks to assess ridership trends and identify potential service gaps. There are also plans to explore similar connectivity options for other underserved areas if the pilot proves successful.
The administration views this step as part of a broader strategy to ensure equitable development across the archipelago by extending basic infrastructure and government services to previously marginalized regions. With the monsoon in full swing, the timing of the launch is also seen as crucial, as alternative modes of transport become unreliable in the rains.
