The Lighthouse is situated on an uninhabited island South West of Neil Island and south of Baratang Island.
It is approachable by the Lighthouse Tender MV Pradeep. It was the first general Lighthouse established by the Deptt of Lighthouses & Lightships in Andaman & Nicobar Islands to facilitate the sailing of vessels to Calcutta.
The Lighthouse is a cast iron circular structure, supplied by M/s. B.B.T. Paris. The lighthouse is situated on a hillock. There are 70 masonry steps to reach the tower. The Lighthouse is an unattended station. A rain water tank and a rest room have been provided for the maintenance staff.
A third order revolving optic, on a mercury trough with DA gas burner and gas motor to revolve the optic, all supplied by M/s BBT, Paris were installed inside the lantern house over the CI tower . The light was commissioned on 14th April 1969. Due to frequent failures of rotation system, the revolving optic assembly was removed and a 500mm cut and polished drum optic was placed in position in 1978. The DA gas burner was replaced by a DA gas flasher with sun valve. This reduced the consumption of DA gas but the intensity of the light went down.
With the shortage in the supply of DA gas it became essential to change over to solar energy. Accordingly the light source was replaced by 12V 100W Halogen lamp inside the same optic and on the same pedestal. The system became operational on 18th October 1993. |
