Sri Vijaya Puram, July 28: CPI (M) has demanded affordable fare in the airlines operated between Port Blair and Chennai/Kolkatta for the stretcher patients from Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In a letter submitted to the Secretary (Civil Aviation), Government of India, New Delhi by D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N Organising Secretary during his recent visit to Delhi, it was stated that several seriously-ill or injured patients are being referred to mainland hospitals as stretcher patients for specialized medical treatment. Earlier, the Air India and also private airlines used to charge affordable fare for such stretcher patients, but the situation now changed as the airlines are charging nearly Rs. 3 lakhs for a stretcher patient from Port Blair to mainland airport, which the common islander cannot afford.
CPI (M) Secretary brought to the notice of the Secretary (Civil Aviation) that in the recent past, private airlines started charging exorbitantly for the air tickets in the mainland-Port Blair sectors, causing grave concern among the islanders. Islanders are finding it difficult to go to mainland for medical treatment, educational purpose of children, to attend social obligations, etc, he said. CPI (M) expressed concern over the fact that the hike in the air fare has also adversely affected tourism industry in the islands, with considerable drop in the tourist footfalls in the islands. Thousands of people who entirely depend on the tourism-related activities in the islands face the brunt of this unjustified fare hike.
CPI (M) Secretary has further brought to the notice of the Secretary (Civil Aviation) that flight schedules between Chennai and Port Blair have been curtailed drastically in the recent past, because of which Chennai-bound passengers are facing difficulties as they are forced to take a longer route via Bengaluru or Hyderabad, with higher airfare. He has further stated that till a month back, Indigo has been operating three flights daily from Chennai to Port Blair and back but now only one flight is being operated in the said sector.
Ayyappan has requested the Secretary (Civil Aviation) to look into the above issues and take appropriate decisions to have affordable fare for stretcher patients from A&N Islands, to lower the air fare for Port Blair – Chennai sector and also maintain sufficient flight services in the Chennai-Port Blair sector which will be of immense relief to lakhs of islanders and tourists who are now facing hardship due to unjustified fare hike by private airlines.