Port Blair, Feb 17: Mr. Vishal Jolly, National Executive Member, BJP & Former State President BJP, A&N Islands and Member Home Ministry Advisory Committee, Govt. of India wrote a letter to Prime Minister of India Mr. NarendraModi, Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah regarding the closure of Andaman Airport for 4 days a week from March-May 2022.
In his letter, Mr. Jolly stated that the Andaman & Nicobar Command has directed to shut down the only Civil Airport of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for 4 days every week starting from March to May 2022. The reason is the re-carpeting work of the runway. A NOTAM was issued in this regard. He suggested that this decision will prove catastrophic for the Andaman Islands’ economy, people’s welfare, lives and livelihoods.
Further, Mr. Jolly invited the following attention for immediate intervention.
Veer Savarkar International Airport is the lifeline of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. A significant part of the trade & commerce of Andaman’s relies on daily operational flights.
The Airport is the sole entry & exit point for the Islands which is relied upon by most Islanders as the shipping route takes 2 days traveling time between mainland India and Andaman’s. The closure will virtually paralyze the movement of men and materials.
Due to limited health infrastructure, Islanders travel to the mainlands for routine and emergency medical help. Closure of the Airport will lead to helplessness and chaos amongst medical patients who need immediate attention unavailable in the Islands.
Tourism was closed on 11.01.2022 by the local administration and reopened only on 08.02.2022. Tourism of Andaman’s runs exclusively on the Airport. Tourists do not travel by the shipping route. Closure for 4 days every week will kill the Tourism Industry which is struggling to survive after repeated closures due to Covid.
In view and sensitive consideration of the issues, he requested to urgently reconsider the decision of closure of Andaman Airport for 4 days each week from March-May 2022 and to opt for technological advances and alternative approach to ensure runway operate for 8 hours a day to prevent paralysis of the Islands.
