Port Blair, Apr 03: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands requested the Lt. Governor of A&N Islands to operate Chartered flights in Port Blair-Kolkata and Port Blair-Chennai routes twice a week from 15th April to July 2022 so that Islanders can get airplane tickets at an affordable rate.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament mentioned that due to ongoing repair works of the runway at Veer Savarkar International Airport flights are not landing for three days every alternative week.
He added that because of this restriction the number of flights to A&N Islands is reduced by Airlines companies which resulted in the increase in Airfare in Port Blair Mainland Sector.
The Member of Parliament pointed out that the Airfare has gone up to Rs. 20,000 for upcoming months, which is unaffordable for Islanders.
He mentioned that as summer vacation will begin soon and thousands of Islanders are planning to visit the mainland but they are surprised to see the astronomically high rates of flight tickets.
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma pointed out that the students of A&N Islands who are planning to pursue their higher studies in Mainland India are finding it difficult to plan their visit to the mainland due to soaring airfare.
