Sri Vijaya Puram, July 27: Residents and visitors in North Andaman are set to benefit from improved maritime connectivity after the Directorate of Shipping Services commenced operations of a chartered 50-passenger ferry service on the Aerial Bay–Gandhi Nagar–Smith Island route, strengthening transport links in the Diglipur region without increasing passenger fares.
The new ferry service was introduced under the Directorate’s recently concluded chartering agreement with three operators as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the quality, reliability and accessibility of ferry services across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The service connecting Aerial Bay, Gandhi Nagar and Smith Island was formally launched on July 26 during a function held at Aerial Bay Jetty. The ferry was flagged off by Santosh Prakash, Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur, in the presence of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and J. Gopinath, Deputy Director, Shipping Services.
According to the Directorate of Shipping Services, the introduction of the chartered vessel is intended to provide dependable and efficient transportation for residents, daily commuters and tourists travelling between Aerial Bay, Gandhi Nagar and Smith Island.
Officials stated that the service is expected to strengthen transportation facilities in the Diglipur region by improving connectivity while offering greater convenience and operational efficiency to passengers using the route.
The launch forms part of the Directorate’s broader initiative to expand dependable ferry services across the islands through chartered vessels, with the objective of improving public transport infrastructure and enhancing accessibility in remote areas.
The Directorate has also clarified that the commencement of the chartered ferry service will not affect existing passenger fares. Ticket prices will continue to remain under the regulation of the Directorate of Shipping Services and will be charged according to the prevailing government-approved fare structure.
By retaining the existing fare structure while introducing additional ferry capacity, the administration aims to improve connectivity without increasing the financial burden on passengers who rely on ferry services for daily travel, work and tourism-related movement.
The Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening inter-island connectivity through dependable ferry operations, stating that the induction of chartered passenger vessels forms part of its continuing efforts to improve the accessibility, efficiency and reliability of public transport services across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
