Reporte – JOHN WILBERT , Port Blair, Andaman Nicobar , July , 2024::
The Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Nilambur has recently expressed gratitude to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Port Blair, for the prompt restoration of disrupted bus services to Rangat, Mayabunder, and Diglipur.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, the Pradhan highlighted a critical issue that had been affecting the residents of Baratang under Gram Panchayat Nilambur. For the past 15 days, the daily bus service to Rangat, which departs at 6 am and returns by 2:30 pm, had been suspended. This service is essential for the public to access vital services in Rangat, including offices such as the Tehsildar, COPO, Block, Aadhaar, and Civil Supplies departments. The suspension caused significant inconvenience, hindering residents from completing necessary official work. Despite previous requests, no progress had been made until recently.
An investigation revealed that the primary reason for the disruption was a severe shortage of conductors, with only six conductors available. Additionally, there was a shortage of drivers and mechanical staff, resulting in many buses being out of service due to a lack of spare parts and necessary repairs. Only a couple of staff members were skilled enough to carry out the required servicing, which had been pending for a long time. Furthermore, buses traveling to and from Diglipur, Mayabunder, and Rangat relied on parts from local Baratang buses during breakdowns, leading to further disruptions in local services.
The Pradhan noted that bus services to Diglipur and Mayabunder were operating regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic, but their regularity declined post-pandemic. Mayabunder, serving as the district headquarters, houses important public offices such as the Court, Zilla Parishad, and PRI EE Office. Many people frequently travel there for official matters, contributing to revenue from these trips. Currently, the buses run only on alternate days, causing additional inconvenience to the public.
Based on the Pradhan’s request, the State Transport Services (STS) department resumed bus services between Rangat and Baratang Islands yesterday. On behalf of the residents of Baratang, the Pradhan thanked the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the State Transport Services for restoring the essential services.
