Port Blair, Dec 30: Director General of Police, Andaman &Nicobar Islands, Mr. Dependra Pathak, IPS, launched “Andaman & Nicobar Tourist Police Ecosystem” on 29.12.2018 in the backdrop of historical Cellular Jail in the presence of Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray. Andaman & Nicobar Tourist Police has rededicated itself with new fervour for providing security & safety as well as facilitation and guidance to the tourists visiting the Islands. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. TarunCoomar, IFS, Air Commodore B. Ahluwalia, VSM, Chief of Staff (Ops), A&N Command, Inspector General of Police, Smt. Shalini Singh, IPS and other senior officers from A&N Administration, Forest department, Police, Armed Force, Member of Electronic & Print media were also present on the occasion.
Director General of Police, A&N Islands, flagged off a fleet of Tourist Police Vehicles, comprising of Tourist Police Vans, designed tourist Motorcycles, and beach bikes (power cycles). Member of Parliament, Mr. BishnuPada Ray inaugurated the Tourist Police Kioskat Cellular Jail and released a booklet containing details of popular tourist spots and important contacts. He welcomed the initiative of Andaman &Nicobar Police to make A&N Islands a tourist friendly place.
A dedicated Tourist Helpline, 155307, has also been established for the benefit of tourists visiting the Islands and started functioning with the first symbolic call by Member of Parliament of the Islands. In order to have a distinct identity, Tourist Police shall wear Arm Band featuring Tourist Police Logo and Tourist Police marking on it.
Addressing the gathering, DGP, ANI, Mr. Dependra Pathak, IPS said that Andaman & Nicobar Islands Tourist Police, with its new ecosystem, will focus on providing safety and security for the tourists and handle the issues faced by them with due sensitivity, instilling an improved sense of confidence, safety, security and facilitation
Andaman & Nicobar has rapidly gained the reputation of an ideal tourist destination, and is widely figured on World Tourism Map, attracting large number of tourists from across the globe and India. The safety & security considerations become paramount for tourists during their travel, stay & visit to tourist destinations. The presence of Tourist Police will not only provide a safe & secure environment for visitors but will also give tourism a fillip and pave way for industry’s future growth.
The Tourist Police shall be deployed at places of major tourist attractions. Initially, to start the Tourist Policing System, 10 tourist spots have been identified where Tourist Police Kiosks are being constructed and trained police personnel are being deployed. These are Corbyn’s Cove Beach, Marina Park,Cellular Jail, Chidiyatapu, Radhanagar Beach (Havelock Island), Kalapathhar Beach (Havelock Island), Elephanta Beach (Havelock Islands), Baratang Jetty, Limestone caves (Baratang Island) andBharatpur beach (Neil Island). Gradually, other tourist places will also be covered under the Tourist Police System.
Tourist Police, apart from manning the Kiosks, will also carry out patrolling withthe especially improved optics designed Patrol Car Crew (Tourist Police Van), bicycle patrol (beach bikes/power bicycles), motorcycle patrol and foot patrolling, so as to have a good visible presence and to effectively address tourists’ concerns.
Tourist Police will also help in sensitizing tourists regarding the law and order system in the islands like entry/exit rules; reporting at local police stations; special permits (Tribal Pass& RAPs); security conditions; social and cultural taboos and other local conditions.
Valuable information materials such as pamphlets on safety tips/advises for the tourists, important tourist places in the islands, map of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, history of A&N Police, Telephone directory containing details of important contact persons are also placed in the tourist police Kiosks and Patrolling Vans for the benefit of the tourists.
Tourist Police personnel have been sensitized regarding security related requirements of tourist industry and trained in soft skills for interaction with tourists, incorporating various aspects viz. behaviour and attitude, law enforcement, familiarization with the history, culture and tourist attraction of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as said in a press release by Superintendent of Police (AP), Andaman & Nicobar Police.
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