Port Blair: Public transport services in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands received a major boost with the induction of the first batch of three new State Transport Service (STS) buses, marking the beginning of a phased fleet augmentation drive by the Transport Department. The buses were flagged off by Lt. Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi at a function held at Raj Niwas on Friday in the presence of senior officers of the A&N Administration.
The newly inducted buses have been earmarked for the STS units at Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur to bridge the shortage of buses in North & Middle Andaman and improve connectivity for thousands of daily commuters.
The fleet expansion is part of a larger procurement of 17 new buses. According to the Transport Department, six more buses are expected to arrive within the next week, while the remaining eight are scheduled for delivery by the end of this month. They will be deployed across various STS units based on passenger demand and operational requirements.
The Transport Department said the STS network continues to serve as the backbone of public transportation across the Union Territory, particularly in rural and remote areas where residents rely heavily on bus services for commuting, education, healthcare and other essential needs.
With the induction of the new buses, the Administration aims to modernise the ageing STS fleet through a phased replacement programme. Special focus is being placed on strengthening transport infrastructure in the North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar districts, ensuring safer, more reliable and efficient public transport services for island commuters.
The phased induction of the new fleet is expected to significantly enhance the quality and reach of public transport, while easing the burden on existing buses that have been in service for several years.
