Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 17 May 2024
The Chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee, Mr. TSG Bhasker, has appealed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to re-introduce chartered flight service between Port Blair and mainland sector, emphasising the necessity for affordable air travel for Islanders.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor on Wednesday, Mr. Bhasker highlighted the exorbitant airfare prices, soaring up to Rs. 20,000 for a one-way trip between Port Blair and the mainland. This surge in prices during the summer vacation season poses a significant financial burden on Islanders, hindering their travel plans to visit their hometowns on the mainland.
Mr. Bhasker underscored the plight of hundreds of students from the A&N Islands pursuing higher education on the mainland, who find it increasingly challenging to plan their trips back home due to the steep airfare. He also noted the adverse impact on tourism, with tourists opting out of visiting the islands due to the high cost of air travel, causing substantial economic losses to the local economy and tour operators.
Furthermore, Mr. Bhasker highlighted the financial strain on Islanders who often need to travel to the mainland for essential purposes such as medical treatment, education, social obligations, and job interviews, but are deterred by the unregulated flight fares.
Proposing a solution to alleviate the situation, Mr. Bhasker suggested the introduction of chartered flight services twice a week on routes including Port Blair-New Delhi, Port Blair-Kolkata, Port Blair-Chennai, and Port Blair-Vizag. He stressed the urgency of this initiative, citing the absence of passenger ships between Port Blair and the mainland, leaving air travel as the sole option for Islanders.
In conclusion, Mr. Bhasker urged the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to take prompt action to introduce affordable chartered flight services between Port Blair and mainland sectors, aiming to ease the financial burden on Islanders and facilitate essential travel needs.