The Hindu Business Line : Passenger service: Haldia an alternative to Kolkata dock?

THE Andaman & Nicobar Administration is examining if Haldia dock could be used as an alternative to Kolkata Dock System (KDS) to run passenger services between the Kolkata port and the Port Blair. This follows persistent crew problem at the KDS.

Inquiries reveal that the Haldia dock authorities, which is also under Kolkata Port Trust, have agreed to provide necessary facilities for setting up a passenger terminal for the proposed service. The all-powerful local Marxist MP too is understood to have assured the A&N Administration that he would do everything possible to ensure a totally trouble-free environment (meaning free from crew and labour problems) to be needed for a smooth and uninterrupted passenger service.

Meanwhile, the stalemate over sailing of the Port Blair-bound m v Nicobar, the passenger ship that remains stranded at KDS for the past few days following agitation by a section of canteen crew known as Bazarmen, appears to have been resolved, at least temporarily, with the agitating crew, backed by the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI), having agreed to truce. The earliest the vessel can set sail is April 29 because of the present low tide in the river.

Earlier in the day, the West Bengal Chief Minister intervened in the dispute. At his instance, his Special Secretary, Mr S. Ahmed, held the meeting with the representatives of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), police authorities and FSUI and also the A & N Administration.

It is learnt that the Administration will try to have the issues in dispute sorted out within the next one month. The agitating canteen crew, who were supposed to sign off, would be allowed to continue to work on board for one more month. FSUI insisted that its members must not be put to inconvenience once they arrived at Port Blair. The Administration only pointed out that the dispute was between the canteen contractor and its employees and neither SCI nor the Administration had anything to do with it.