Sri Vijaya Puram, April 8: The Chairman of ANTCC Campaign Committee Shri. TSG Bhasker, has drawn urgent attention to the unaffordable airfares affecting the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and has appealed to the Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation for immediate intervention.
In his representation, Shri Bhasker highlighted that the cost of air travel between Port Blair and mainland cities has reached alarming levels, placing a severe financial burden on Islanders. He noted that one-way fares from Sri Vijaya Puram to Chennai and Kolkata currently range between ₹19,000 to ₹25,000, while fares from Sri Vijaya Puram to Delhi are around ₹40,000. Even return journeys from Chennai and Kolkata to Port Blair cost approximately ₹14,000 to ₹16,000 while Delhi to Port Blair costs around ₹20,000 to 25,000, making travel increasingly inaccessible for common citizens.
He further pointed out the stark disparity wherein one-way domestic airfares to and from the Islands are higher than two-way international travel costs to destinations such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. This situation, he emphasized, is particularly concerning given the unique geographical challenges of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Shri Bhasker underlined that, unlike other parts of the country, the Islands lack alternative modes of transport such as rail or road connectivity, making air travel the sole lifeline for residents to access essential services including education, healthcare, and employment opportunities on the mainland.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, he urged the Government to take immediate steps to introduce special measures such as operating chartered flights during peak travel months such as May and June, reserving 25% of seats at subsidized rates for Islanders in regular flights, and implementing effective regulation of airfares on these critical routes. He also called upon the Ministry to initiate a constructive dialogue with airline operators to address the issue comprehensively and arrive at practical solutions in the larger interest of the public.