Sri Vijaya Puram, April 1: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has made a strong appeal to Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Union Home Minister, and Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, seeking urgent intervention to regulate the exorbitant airfares between mainland India and Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the Hon’ble MP stated that airfares on routes connecting the Sri Vijaya Puram with cities such as Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam have reached alarming levels. One-way ticket prices are frequently ranging between ₹18,000 and ₹35,000, while during peak seasons and emergencies, fares often surge beyond ₹40,000 to ₹50,000. These rates are significantly higher compared to other domestic routes of similar distance, where fares typically range between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000.
Shri Ray pointed out that he had earlier taken up the matter with the Government, including writing to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and concerned Ministers in April 2025. In response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had stated that airfares are determined by airlines under Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, with regulatory oversight by DGCA to prevent excessive pricing. However, the MP emphasized that the current fare levels are neither reasonable nor affordable, particularly for a remote and strategically important region like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where air travel is the only practical mode of connectivity.
He further highlighted that the Islands are home to around 5 lakh residents, most of whom belong to middle- and lower-income groups. Nearly 70–80% of air travel is undertaken for essential purposes such as medical treatment, education, employment, and official duties. Due to the high cost of tickets, many residents are forced to delay critical medical treatment, incur financial distress, or cancel important travel plans.
He also expressed concern over the adverse impact on the tourism sector, which is a key contributor to the local economy. High airfares have resulted in reduced tourist arrivals, lower hotel occupancy and loss of livelihood for small business owners, tour operators, and other stakeholders.
Describing the situation as both a social and humanitarian concern, Shri Ray Hon’ble MP urged the Central Government to take immediate steps such as (i) introducing an upper cap on airfares for routes connecting mainland India and Sri Vijaya Puram (ii) Increasing flight frequency and promoting greater competition among airlines (iii) Bringing these routes under special provisions, including strengthening the UDAN scheme for remote regions (iv) Establishing a robust monitoring mechanism to prevent arbitrary surge pricing etc.,
Shri Ray expressed hope that the Government will take prompt and decisive action to ensure affordable and equitable air connectivity for the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.