Port Blair, Feb 25: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Prime Minister of India, New Delhi to allow landing of flights for a certain window period of 4 to 5 hours daily so that Andaman Nicobar Islands are not cut off from rest of country.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of India, the Member of Parliament mentioned that this has come to his knowledge that the Andaman Nicobar Command has directed to close the only runway of Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands for four consecutive days of each week for March, April & May 2022 for which a NOTAM has also been issued.

In this regard he mentioned that such a decision will paralyze the entire system of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and leave a negative impact on day to day affairs of these Islands.

The Member of Parliament pointed out that the tourism industry of Andaman & Nicobar Islands is presently generating maximum employment for the local youths. During the first, second and the third waves and during other restrictions, this Tourism Industry has already suffered heavy blow.  Now after third wave of COVID-19, the local Administration has reopened Tourism in Andaman & Nicobar Islands after which it is picking slowly. Closure of Andaman’s only Runway for four days of each week will again cause huge loss to the Tourism Industry and create more unemployment. Infact this decision will have a devastating impact on the Tourism Industry of these Islands, on which thousands of youths are dependent.

He added that soon after the announcement of the decision, airfare between Port Blair and Mainland India has become almost double within one week for these three months and this is sure that in coming days the airfare will soar even higher, making it impossible for public to reach Mainland India from Port Blair and vice versa.

He mentioned that presently no passenger ship is being operated between Mainland India and Port Blair since last nearly one year and hence flights are the only lifeline of Andaman & Nicobar Islands at present. And for Andaman & Nicobar Island there is only one operational runway for passenger flights, which is Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair.

Most importantly, the Member of Parliament apprised the PM that almost every day one or two patients are being referred from Port Blair to mainland for specialised treatment and many among these patients are serious patients, who need to be airlifted and delay of one day may prove fatal for these patients.

Considering all these points, he requested the Prime Minister of India to allow landing of flights for a certain window period of 4 to 5 hours on daily basis.