Steps to tide over passenger rush on Cochin-Lakshadweep sector

Kochi, May 21 (UNI) With Lakshadweep-bound passengers being stranded here for days due to inadequate transportation, the union territory administration is trying to augment the shipping facilities in the islands, an official said here today.

Port Officer, Lakshadweep Administration, A Hamza said that at present, only two out of five mainland-island ships were in operation due to technical reasons. While M V Bharat Seema had been withdrawn from service on expiry of its survey certificate, M V Minicoy was undergoing repairs at Cochin Shipyard. M V Dweep Setu had also been withdrawn for the current monsoon season.

At present only M V Tipu Sultan (658 passenger capacity) and M V Amindivi (150 passengers) were in operation.

The Lakshadweep administration had also asked the Centre to request Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities to arrange for a medium size passenger ship immediately for four months for the Lakshadweep sector either by diversion or by leasing from the open market.

Three new high speed vessels (150 passenger), constructed at Penglin Shipyard, Singapore, reached Kochi on May 19 and these were being taken over immediately to press into service.

Efforts were also being made to get back M V Bharat Seema on a priority basis and it was likely to be back in service in the first week of June. M V Minicoy was also expected to be back from Cochin Shipyard in May-end, the Port Officer said.

An Advisory Committee, set up by the Lakshadweep administration, to frame guidelines for drawal of ship schedules was being convened here on May 22-23 to sort out problems being faced by passengers, he said.

A 700 passenger-cum-160 MT cargo ship, being constructed at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatanam, is also nearing completion and is likely to be received by the end of July, he added.

UNI