Sri Vijaya Puram, April 22: The mainland bound ship traveling passengers in the Andaman and Nicobar islands have come in for sharp criticism from different quarters. It has been genuinely grappling with serious travel inconvenience as passenger shipping services between the islands and the mainland face a major disruption. With summer vacations approaching and travel demand rising, the near absence of ships has left many residents frustrated and concerned. The situation has worsened on the count of sky high air fares during this time of the year.
An official from the local administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the dire situation. “Currently, no vessels are available for immediate service between the islands and the mainland. One ship, Swaraj Dweep, is undergoing its annual survey, while another is in dry dock. However, there’s a silver lining, one vessel may resume its voyage soon,” the official said in a brief conversation with The Wave Andaman.
The lack of available ships has sparked criticism from various corners, with locals expressing concern over being cut off from essential travel routes. This is particularly problematic with the onset of school holidays, a time when many families travel to the mainland. Various public organizations and artists have already taken up the vexed issue with the administration but no concrete outcome has come up.
Interestingly, when asked to comment, another official downplayed the situation, citing economic impracticality. “There’s been very low passenger turnout. Swaraj Dweep, which can carry around 1,200 passengers, recently saw only 200 people onboard. Running such large vessels isn’t feasible in these conditions,” he explained.
However, amid public demand and the upcoming holiday rush, he assured that preparations are underway to deploy a vessel for the vacation season. “The summer voyage schedule will be announced in the next few days,” he added.
The administration currently has a fleet of 66 vessels, both offshore and onshore. Yet, the current bottleneck has laid bare the need for more efficient planning and better contingency measures to ensure residents aren’t left stranded during peak travel times.
