Port Blair, Feb 16: The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have expressed serious concern over the sky-rocketing airfare in Port Blair-Mainland sector during March, April and May due to the shortage of flight services owing to the re-surfacing of the Runway and other airport related work by the Andaman and Nicobar Command. In a letter addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India, the General Secretary of the Association, Shri R. Rajendran has told that the re-surfacing work being carried out in the one and only runway at Port Blair which is to continue till May 2023, has resulted in the increase of flight fares in Port Blair-Mainland sector and the common public as well as Govt. servants badly affected due to this.

He also informed that owing to the Summer Vacations in schools which is expected in May – June, hundreds of teachers, govt. servants and common public will be visiting their home town, which would further aggravate the situation due to the shortage of flight and non-availability of ship services.

The General Secretary demanded that in the welfare of common public and govt. servants, immediate steps may be taken to increase the frequency of flights and also reduce the airfare to make it affordable for common public.