The Union Shipping Ministry has reportedly given permission for a parallel sea route from Port Blair to Baratang that serves as the entry point to the northern islands.
The new sea route has reportedly been announced to prevent tourists from travelling through a reserve forest area where the protected Jarawa Tribals live.
It is expected that the parallel sea route will give a fillip to tourism in the northern Islands.
Presently, tourists and residents pass through the Andaman Trunk Road that passes through a reserve forest.
The Supreme Court had in a ruling earlier asked the Andaman and Nicobar administration to close the road and go for a sea route parallel to it, but relaxed its order later to say that road can continue to exist along with a parallel sea route.
The shipping ministry has reportedly given permission to the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works Department for the project. Clearance from the union environment ministry is now required to pave the way for non-controversial tourism activity in the norhern islands.
