Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 24 May 2024
Member of Parliament for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, has urged the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to facilitate the operation of chartered flights on the Port Blair-Kolkata, Port Blair-Chennai, and Port Blair-Visakhapatnam routes. This plea comes in response to skyrocketing airfare rates that have significantly impacted the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In a letter to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Mr. Sharma highlighted the alarming rise in airfare, which has made travel to the mainland increasingly unaffordable. “The current airfare rates have reached an alarming level, severely impacting the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” he stated.
As of this week, the cost of a one-way ticket from Port Blair to Chennai ranges between Rs. 22,000 and Rs. 36,000. Mr. Sharma pointed out that such exorbitant prices are beyond the reach of the common man, making it extremely difficult for people to travel for urgent matters. “This situation is particularly dire for vacation goers, students returning home, and patients seeking medical treatment on the mainland, who are the worst sufferers of these inflated fares,” he added.
In light of these challenges, Mr. Sharma has requested the intervention of the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to facilitate the operation of chartered flights on the specified routes. He mentioned that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has previously operated chartered flights between Port Blair and the mainland to alleviate similar issues.
“The introduction of chartered flights would not only help in easing the financial burden on the residents but also ensure that essential travel can be undertaken without undue hardship,” Mr. Sharma emphasized.
The MP’s appeal highlights the urgent need for affordable air travel options to and from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ensuring that residents can manage travel for essential purposes without facing prohibitive costs.