Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 01: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has initiated measures to improve tourist convenience and public amenities in Shaheed Dweep following Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma’s recent two-day visit to the island, with better last-mile movement at the jetty and improved seating facilities at beaches now being taken up.
The Tourism Department has invited tenders for the deployment of battery-operated golf carts at the Shaheed Dweep jetty. The proposed service is intended to transport tourists and passengers between the point of embarkation and disembarkation and the main gate of the jetty, reducing the difficulty of walking the distance, particularly for elderly visitors, families with children and passengers carrying luggage.
The move follows the Lieutenant Governor’s visit to Shaheed Dweep, during which tourism facilities, cleanliness, public infrastructure and issues raised by residents were reviewed. Earlier, The Wave Andaman reported that Dr. Sharma had directed authorities to improve basic tourist amenities at Laxmanpur Beach, including eco-huts, benches and signboards, while emphasising the role of Panchayats in maintaining cleanliness and supporting village tourism.
The latest measures extend that focus to the island’s jetty and beaches, where tourist convenience is closely linked to the overall visitor experience.
The proposed battery-operated carts are expected to provide a practical solution for passengers who may find it difficult to cover the distance between the jetty’s landing point and its entrance. With Shaheed Dweep being one of the major tourist destinations in the Andaman Islands, the jetty is an important point of arrival for visitors travelling by inter-island vessels.
Alongside transportation facilities, the Tourism Department has also taken steps to improve seating at beaches across Shaheed Dweep. An adequate number of benches, including benches fitted with tables as well as standalone seating, have been installed at various beaches.
The new facilities are intended to provide tourists with places to rest and spend time comfortably while visiting the island’s beaches. The addition of seating also forms part of a wider effort to make tourist destinations more accessible and visitor-friendly without compromising the island’s natural environment.
The initiatives come against the backdrop of a wider review of public facilities undertaken during Dr. Sharma’s visit to Shaheed Dweep on September 27 and 28. His visit covered tourism locations as well as healthcare, policing, sanitation and local governance.
At the Primary Health Centre, the Lieutenant Governor reviewed the diagnostic laboratory, dispensary and wards and directed officials to maintain cleanliness and take up pending repairs. He also called for the early completion of the under-construction 10-bedded ward. The demand for an ultrasound facility and an ambulance for the island was among the healthcare concerns raised during the visit.
At a Jan Samvad programme, local representatives raised several issues, including rural road repairs, fertiliser availability for vegetable cultivation and the need for a new Community Centre. The absence of night ship connectivity was also highlighted, an issue that has implications not only for residents but also for emergency movement and connectivity between the island and Sri Vijaya Puram.
Tourism and cleanliness were also prominent during the visit. Dr. Sharma participated in cleanliness activities under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at important public and tourist locations, including Bharatpur Beach and Laxmanpur Sunset Beach. He also inspected the Solid Waste Management Cluster and reviewed arrangements for waste segregation and disposal.
At Laxmanpur Beach, he stressed that development of tourism facilities must go hand in hand with environmental protection. He also emphasised the responsibility of Gram Panchayats in sustaining cleanliness and strengthening village tourism.
The latest decision to introduce golf carts and expand beach seating therefore represents a shift towards addressing smaller but visible gaps in the visitor experience alongside larger infrastructure and connectivity concerns.
For Shaheed Dweep, where tourism remains a major component of the local economy, improvements in basic amenities can have a direct impact on visitors as well as local businesses dependent on tourism. Easier movement from the jetty, adequate seating and better-maintained public spaces can contribute to a more comfortable experience while also encouraging longer stays at tourist locations.
At the same time, the effectiveness of the measures will depend on their regular maintenance and integration with broader infrastructure improvements. The island continues to face concerns relating to healthcare, road connectivity, maritime services, waste management and public amenities.
The Administration has directed concerned officials to prepare reports on the issues identified during the Lieutenant Governor’s visit and ensure prompt implementation of the directions issued.
The focus on tourist facilities, alongside measures addressing healthcare, sanitation and local infrastructure, indicates an attempt to address Shaheed Dweep’s development needs through improvements that affect both residents and visitors. For an island whose economy and identity are closely connected with tourism, the challenge will now be to ensure that improved amenities are matched by reliable connectivity, effective waste management and protection of its fragile coastal environment.
