Serendipity : Musings of an Islander

Convoy system in the stretch of A ndaman T runk R oad (ATR) passing through J arawa reserve between J irkarang and  M iddle   S trait , now a day is being used as a means to harass the common public. Rules are implemented tactfully to curtail free movement of common public whereas rules are flouted or relaxed to extend freedom and liberty to the elite few! A s per the system in force, plying of two wheelers is not allowed in the stretch of ATR between J irkatang and M iddle S trait . But the enforcer themselves ride two wheelers; one in front of the convoy and another in the middle of the convoy; every day, every trip, in broad day light. With the prescribed speed limit of 40 km/hour the distance of 47 K m between J irkatang and  M iddle   S trait  should take about 1 hr 10 min. But the convoy lead by two wheeler pilot, surprisingly takes about two hours. This means the enforcers themselves causes the convoy to proceed slowly at speeds less tha...

Port Blair, the capital city is the hub of all citizen centric services namely : the lone referral ( GB P ant) H ospital, A&N A dministration S ecretariat, office of the H on’ble LG/CS/D eputy C ommissioner, P olice H eadquarters, C ivil C ourts, D irectorates of various offices, S chools, E ngineering/ D egree C olleges, ITI, B usiness E stablishments, S hops, A irport, Seaport  and a whole lot of other public utility services. To avail of these services, a good number of peoples from rural S outh A ndaman i.e., F errar G anj T ehsil, the second most populous tehsil in ANI, visits P ort B lair every day through the sea route availing vehicle ferry service between B ambooflat and C hatham. According to a rough estimate approximately 14000 passengers including students, office goers, daily wage earners, patients, industrial workers and about a thousand vehicles comprising 2 wheelers , A uto rickshaw , 4 wheelers, cars etc depend on vehicle ferry and or passenger ferry boats ope...