Port Blair, Dec. 15: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India to give special concession to all stretcher patients of Andaman & Nicobar Islands so that they have to pay the cost of only one seat instead of nine seats to Airlines Companies.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, the Member of Parliament mentioned that Andaman & Nicobar Islands are situated nearly 1200 KM (approx) away from nearest Airport in Mainland India, Chennai and Kolkata. For serious medical cases, evacuation in passenger aircraft remains the only option.
He said that in the recent past for evacuation of serious stretcher patients from Port Blair till now family members of the patient had to pay Rs. 1,32,000 (One lakh thirty-two thousands) one way, excluding cost of tickets for patient attendants.
He pointed out that nearly two months ago the rate of tickets for stretcher patients has been almost doubled without any valid reason to nearly Rs. 2,41,000 (two lakh forty one thousand only), which has come as a massive blow to the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, most of whom can’t afford to buy tickets for stretcher patient in such a high rate in case of medical emergency.
He mentioned that charging such an exorbitant amount from stretcher patients during the time of medical emergencies is unethical.
The MP further pointed out that prior to the year 2007 for few years the Government of India had fixed the rate for stretcher patients from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, under which a stretcher patient had to pay only Rs. 29,000 approx (lump-sum rate), which used to be issued through ANIIDCO. But in 2007 the fare was revised.
In 2009, replying to a Parliament Question the Civil Aviation Ministry has stated that Air India had revised the stretcher fare with effect from 15.05.2007 from a single fare to six fares for carrying invalid passengers on stretcher from Port Blair since they need to remove a maximum of 9 seats for accommodating the stretcher.
He pointed out that if cost of 9 seats are calculated, considering Rs. 10,000 as average fare for one seat then also the total cost remains Rs. 90,000, which is much lower than Rs. 2,41,000 (two lakh forty one thousand only), the present fare.
Hence, he requested the Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation to intervene in this matter and give special concession to all stretcher patients of Andaman & Nicobar Islands so that they have to pay the cost of only one seat instead of nine seats to Airlines Companies, which will be a great support to the family members of serious patients.
The Member of Parliament also requested to issue necessary directions to all private Airlines Companies to allow evacuation of stretcher patients as presently only Air India is allowing stretcher patients.