Lakshadweep begins inter-island transportation

Kochi: The administration of Lakshadweep has initiated special inter-island transport services to move its residents stranded in various islands to their home islands. Ships and other vessels are used to transport the residents.
Passengers would be transported between Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Chetlat, Agatti, Amini, Bitra, Kadamat, Kiltan, Minicoy and Andrott.
As per an order of the Lakshadweep administration, the decision was taken as the Lakshadweep Islands come under one district, and as the restricted movement within a district was not in violation of the MHA guidelines.
"..the MHA guidelines do not mention any restriction for movement of passengers within the district, except limiting no of passengers for ensuring social distancing to 30%-40% passenger capacity,” an order dated February 15, issued by the Port Shipping and Aviation department of the Lakshadweep administration states.
An Island-level committee has been set up at each island, which will determine the genuineness of being stranded and issue tickets accordingly. Patients, followed by mothers with infants will be prioritised, an official source said.
Ships including MV Kavaratti, MV Corals, MV Arabian Sea, MV Lakhsadweep Sea, MV Valiyapani, and High-speed crafts such as Blue Marlin, Black Marlin and Skipjack are deployed to undertake the mission.
Sources said that special services are scheduled between April 21 to 27. “There are several persons who had gone to other islands for teaching or for studying. Also, some patients had gone to hospitals in islands like Kavaratti,” said a source with the administration.
The last passenger ship from the mainland reached Lakshadweep on March 25. However, cargo vessels are continuing service. Sources said that the crew of the Cargo vessels stay inside the ships and a permanent team is engaged in off-loading essential items. These persons are strictly monitored for their health status. Two doctors and a bureaucrat, who were airlifted from Kochi few days ago, are in home quarantine at the islands.