CPI (M) Raises Transport and Banking Considerations of Katchal Island Residents

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 15 July 2025

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has taken up key points affecting the residents of Katchal Island, urging the involved authorities to take immediate corrective measures concerning transportation and banking providers on the island.

In a letter addressed to the Director of Transport, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary of CPI (M), has requested the speedy deployment of further STS buses to Katchal Island. According to the letter, the island at present has just one useful STS bus in operation, whereas the second bus is reportedly present process main repairs and is unserviceable for the foreseeable future.

The lone bus presently operates between the Marine Jetty and different areas of the island, primarily timed with the arrival of the speedboat from Kamorta. However, CPI (M) has highlighted that this restricted service usually disrupts faculty transportation and inconveniences the general public, together with sufferers, college students, and day by day commuters.

Ayyappan additionally raised issues about a couple of personal car operators who, within the absence of adequate public transport, are allegedly charging exorbitant fares even for brief distances. He criticized the Transport Department for treating the demand for extra STS buses in a “casual manner,” thereby inflicting appreciable hardship to the folks of Katchal.

In a separate communication addressed to Mr. P.G. Paul, Retired DANICS officer and Chairman of the A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd., CPI (M) has referred to as for pressing steps to deal with the acute scarcity of forex notes on the island. Ayyappan urged the financial institution to ship satisfactory money by means of Pawan Hans helicopter service on the earliest.

Highlighting the difficulty, he acknowledged that the one operational financial institution in Katchal is the native department of the A&N State Cooperative Bank, which is at present going through a extreme money crunch. The ATM put in by the financial institution on the island has reportedly been non-functional for a number of days as a result of lack of funds.

CPI (M) has requested the financial institution chairman to personally intervene within the matter and be sure that the banking wants of Katchal Island residents are met with out additional delay.