The passenger vessels from Cochin call on this island whenever it touches Chetlat-generally twice a month. The inter island ferry visits the island every week. Bitra’s peculiar feature is that it’s a tiny island with very large lagoon surrounding it. There is no charted anchorage for this island therefore ships don’t anchor and keep slowly drifting in the north eastern region from the island to discharge the passengers and cargo. There is only one entrance in the reef for the boats, about 100 m wide with the depth of water up to 2.5 m. 

There was no light provided on the island till 1977. A wooden trestle was erected over which a 300mm equipment (BBT) was installed with DA gas operated flasher and sun-valve. The light was commissioned on 15th May 1977.  Subsequently the wooden trestle was replaced by 30m high G.I. trestle tower supplied by M/s Kerala Electrical & Allied Industries Ltd, Cochin. The equipment was replaced with 500mm size optic and lantern with DA gas flasher from Madras LH Work shop. The equipment was commissioned into service on 7th May 1984. 

Under the programme of the modernization, Bitra was the first light attended by the composite Installation party from Jamnagar and Cochin, in 1995, directly approaching by M.V. Sagardeep from Okha. The DA gas equipment was removed and Jyoti Punj electronic flasher (JLWL) operating on solar charged Batteries was installed in place. The new system was commissioned into service on 30th October 1995.