Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 20 May 2024
Residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are grappling with soaring airfares between Port Blair and the mainland, causing significant distress among the islanders. The exorbitant prices, especially evident in May and early June 2024, have left many locals unable to afford essential travel.
The steep airfares have forced numerous residents to postpone critical trips to the mainland for medical treatment, family visits, education, and other important matters. This annual surge in prices during the summer vacation period has consistently left islanders feeling helpless and frustrated.
Despite repeated pleas from the general public and political leaders to address the issue, no effective solution has been implemented. In the past, the Administration introduced chartered flight services with fixed fares for islanders, providing a much-needed respite. However, the discontinuation of these services has left residents with no alternative but to pay the high prices demanded by commercial airlines.
Political leaders have renewed calls for the Administration to reinstate the chartered flight services between Port Blair and mainland cities. They emphasise the urgent need to alleviate the financial burden on islanders caused by the inflated airfares.
The impact of these high costs extends beyond the residents. The tourism industry, a vital source of employment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is also suffering. With airfares making the islands less competitive compared to more affordable international destinations, tourism has taken a hit, affecting the local economy.
Despite the recent inauguration of a new, modern terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport, which was expected to increase flight operations, including international routes, no substantial changes have been observed yet. The hoped-for boost in connectivity and reduction in airfares has not materialised.
Islanders and stakeholders in the tourism industry are urging authorities to implement concrete measures to stabilise airfares throughout the year. Such actions are seen as crucial to promoting tourism and providing much-needed relief to the island’s residents.
Air tickers in the Chennai sector are being sold in the range of 25k – 30k Rupees for a 2 hrs air journey . The Islanders are being exploited by the air line companies. The Public representatives whom the Islanders had voted remain silent and the UT administration is unaware of the hardships of the Islanders !
That flight ticket really too much high I need to request prime minister Narendra Modi aapse Mera vinati hai ki aap Andaman ke liye soche aap Maldives ke liye soch Raha hai aap Lakshadweep ke liye soch Raha hai Magar Andaman dip ke liye kuchh bhi nahin soch rahe hain Andaman dip ka jo GDP bolate Hain vah bhi tourism ke vajah se hi hai agar Andaman aana jana ke liye ekmatra achcha suvidha flight ka hai agar vahi flight ticket 20000 25000 ka ban jaega to Andaman mein jo tribal lock hai aur anuman ke local basi hai unko itna ticket ka jo price hai affordable nahin kar sakte hain kyunki Andaman mein soch sab income only tourism hai agar agar flight ka fair itna jyada rahega to tourism bhi ghatega aur local public bhi aana jana nahin kar payega kyunki kuchh bhi problem hota hai medical issue hota hai local public ko bahar jana padta hai Chennai Bengaluru to vah kaise upload kar payega bataiye
Airlines shut the mouth of elected politicians and bureaucrats by offering gifts. No one is there to think about poor Andaman public including the ruling government since from the beginning. Present days it goes extreme.