Andaman and Nicobar Administration

Directorate of IP&T

Information & Publicity Division

 

 

 

Port Blair January 27, 2015.

 

 

 

Press Release

 

 

 

 

 

 

66th Republic Day celebrated befittingly

LG announces Health Insurance Scheme for islanders

 

 

 

 

        Port Blair, Jan.27: Traditional fervor, march past, display of tablaoux and unfurling of the national tri-colour marked the  66th Republic day celebrations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 26th January 2015. The Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. A K Singh, ( Retd) unfurled the National Flag at Netaji Stadium in the morning. The function was attended among others by the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Commander-in-Chief, ANC, Shri P K Chatterjee, Chief Secretary Shri Anand Prakash, Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Ms. V K Mariyam Bibi, Chairperson PBMC, Shri M Aramugam and other dignitaries.

 

          Addressing the Islanders on the occasion, the Lt Governor greeted the people of the Islands on the 66th Republic Day and recalled the visible progress made by the Islands during the last one year. On the occasion, he announced the launch of the ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands Scheme for Health Insurance’ for providing medical treatment for referral patients in mainland, whose annual income group is not more than three lakhs. He lauded the efforts of the MP in pursuing this scheme. The Lt. Governor said that this is perhaps one of the finest schemes of its kind in the country and urged the elected representatives in PBMC and PRIs to make the people aware of the scheme.

 

        The Lt. Governor said that a comprehensive discussion had been held with the stakeholders including the Member of Parliament and PRIs for reviewing and stepping up the pace of development and the schemes and initiatives proposed to be introduced. The opening of a medical college with 100 seats of which 70 island students would be offered admission, and the availability of specialists and super specialists would improve the health care in the Islands, he said.

 

        Dwelling at length on the various achievements in the last year in the Islands, the Lt. Governor said that a new college has become functional with 360 students on roll.  A chartered flight was introduced in January this year between Port Blair and Chennai, which facilitates Islanders lesser rate of tickets. There is a proposal to introduce chartered flights between Port Blair Kolkata and Port Blair Vizag as soon as aircrafts and pilots are available. Introduction of flight between Port Blair and Car Nicobar has immensely benefitted the people of the Islands, he said. The work on extension of runway at Campbell Bay has started and it is expected that the extension work of Shibpur at Diglipur will begin in near future, he said. The proposed new terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport and the extended runway at Campbell Bay and Shibpur will also facilitate the arrival of tourists, he said.

 

        About the strategic importance of the Islands, the lt. Governor said that all this while, these islands have been treated as an outpost. However, as part of the ‘Look East-Act East’ policy, they should now be considered as a spring board towards the east, he said. He further stated that a direct flight between Port Blair and Phuket in Thailand is being considered and will be introduced as soon as the modalities in this regard are finalized. This service will open up enormous opportunities for tourism and trade with South East Asia, he said.

 

        Referring to sports, the Lt. Governor said that the Department had been revamped and strengthened and the State Sport Council has been reconstituted. He noted with appreciation the remarkable achievements of one of the sportspersons of the Islands Ms Deborah and stated she had made us proud by winning four of the five golds that India got in the recently held Track Asia Cycling Championship.

 

        On the tourism sector, the Lt. Governor said that after the tragic incident of January 2014, a safety audit was conducted in all shipping vessels, including private tourist boats. Shipping, being the lifeline of the Islands, a comprehensive plan has been drawn for acquisition of ships, Construction of jetties and improving the serviceability state of ships. A draft policy for some of the particular vulnerable tribes has been formulated and is awaited for approval of the Central Government. The ANTRI museum will also start taking shape as land for the same has been identified and construction work will commence next year, he said. The Lt. Governor mentioned the initiatives of the Prime Minister, such as Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, Sanshad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and appealed to one and all to join hands and make these programmes a great success in these Islands.

 

        The Lt. Governor said that plans have been finalized to enhance the tourist infrastructure to cater to the future needs. A decision has been made for providing land at Long Island, Hut Bay and around Port Blair for the construction of few three and five star hotels by private parties. The project for widening the National Highway from Chidiya Tapu has been approved and this entire area will be a major tourist hub, he said. The Lt. Governor said that the Administration will undertake the planning and development of integrated housing complex with modern amenities, first of its kind in the Islands, which will be available for people from the weaker sections as well. Land for this has been identified at Teylerabad, he said.

 

        Expressing concern over the high rate of suicide in the Islands owing to reasons such as alcoholism, mental depression, etc. the Lt. Governor said that efforts are being made to reach out to people of different communities and provide counseling to them. He appealed to all members of civil society, NGOs and the media to cooperate in this respect.

 

        The Lt. Governor also informed about the plan for laying of an undersea cable to connect the islands with Chennai, construction of 2 dams at Khudirampur and Kamsharat, construction of 2 new bridges at Middle Strait and Humphrey Strait for which formalities have been completed, he said. 

 

        The Lt. Governor thanked the Member of Parliament, PBMC, PRIs and the representatives of the political parties for their constructive support in the developmental activities of the Islands. He also advised all the officers of the Administration to act according to the recently released ‘Citizen Charter’ and work to the expectations of the people.

 

        The Lt. Governor gave away the LG Commendation Certificates to as many as twelve persons and three institutions on the occasion.

 

        A spectacular Republic Day parade was conducted, in which contingents from Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, colleges and school NCC Scouts & Guides participated. Tableaux display was also conducted showcasing the activities of departments such as ANC, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Election, DHS Environment & Forest, Industries, Shipping and A & N Fire Services. The attraction of the day was the disaster rescue operation demonstration by the A & N Fires Services. A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the school students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Anand Prakash unfurling the National Flag

at Secretariat on the occasion of the Republic Day on 26.01.2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reservation of chartered flight tickets on

Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai sector

 

        Passengers intending to travel by the chartered flight from Port Blair to Chennai  on 7^th February, 2015 and from Chennai to Port Blair in the next chartered flight scheduled on 21^st February, 2015 are requested to submit their requisition in the prescribed format available on website www.and.nic.in and book their tickets at the Ship Ticket Advance Reservation System (STARS) Counter, Directorate of Shipping Services, Phoenix Bay Jetty,  Port Blair between 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM from 28^th January, 2015 onwards. The reservation will close at 11.00 AM on 6.02.2015. Similarly, for the forthcoming chartered flights scheduled on 21.2.2015, 7.3.2015 and 21.3.2015 the tickets for travel from Port Blair to Chennai can be reserved 10 days before the scheduled departure and the return tickets from Chennai to Port Blair can also be reserved from Port Blair itself on the following dates: