Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 05 December 2025
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, has assured that the Central Government stays dedicated to strengthening maritime connectivity for the folks of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, acknowledging that dependable and inexpensive sea transport continues to be the area’s major lifeline.
The assurance got here in response to a letter submitted by CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, Mr. R. Sachithanantham. In his written reply, the Union Minister acknowledged that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration at present operates 4 vessels for mainland delivery providers.
Mr. Sonowal additional knowledgeable that 4 new 500-passenger inter-island vessels are being procured by the Administration, and these can also be deployed on the mainland route if required.
To enhance inter-island connectivity, significantly within the southern group of islands, the Minister confirmed that two 300-passenger vessels are being chartered and 4 200-ton cargo vessels are being acquired to enhance each passenger and cargo transport throughout the archipelago.
The Minister additionally highlighted declining utilisation of ships on the mainland–island route attributable to passengers more and more shifting to air journey, which has led to substantial monetary losses. Despite this pattern, the Ministry has continued efforts to take care of important delivery providers, he acknowledged.
Mr. Sonowal additional famous that the continued apply of deploying contract crew instead of rostered workers has produced constructive outcomes and created employment alternatives for youth holding Certificates of Competency (CoC).
To handle long-standing points associated to freight motion, the Minister revealed that the Administration is within the technique of procuring two cargo vessels with a capability of 200 containers every. This step is anticipated to assist break the monopoly of personal cargo operators and scale back costs of important items within the islands.
The developments comply with a gathering held on 31 July 2025, the place CPI(M) MP Mr. Sachithanantham and Mr. D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI(M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee, met the Union Minister at his Parliament House workplace and submitted a memorandum itemizing key shipping-related calls for.
Among the calls for, the CPI(M) sought expediting the development of two 1,200-passenger vessels with 1,000 MT cargo capability ordered earlier from Cochin Shipyard, citing the difficulties confronted by passengers travelling between the islands and mainland. The celebration acknowledged that the commissioning of those vessels would generate employment for 200–300 seafarers from the islands.
The memorandum additionally reiterated the long-pending demand of the Nicobarese neighborhood for extra MV Sentinel-type vessels appropriate for shallow harbours and tough sea situations within the southern group of islands, together with Car Nicobar and Katchal. The CPI(M) urged the Centre to obtain at the very least three such vessels and extra 450/500-passenger inter-island ships to deal with rising journey demand.
The celebration additional pressed for extra cargo vessels and everlasting recruitment of seamen on a roster foundation below the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, citing large-scale unemployment amongst skilled seafarers. [Story Based on PR from CPI(M)]
