Sri Vijaya Puram, July 12: Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of ANTCC, has written to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, seeking urgent intervention to regulate the exorbitant airfares charged by airlines operating between Sri Vijaya Puram and major mainland cities.
In his representation, Mr. Bhasker highlighted that airfares on routes connecting Sri Vijaya Puram with Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and other mainland cities have become unaffordable for the common people. Citing his recent travel experience, he stated that a one-way airfare from Delhi to Port Blair for two passengers cost ₹73,662, demonstrating the alarming rise in ticket prices.
He pointed out that it is deeply unfair that Indian citizens are often required to pay more for domestic travel to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands than for international travel to several foreign destinations. He said such pricing places an unbearable financial burden on island residents, who have no alternative to air travel, and has also adversely affected tourism, resulting in a decline in visitor arrivals to the Islands.
Mr. Bhasker emphasized that the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands depend entirely on air connectivity for higher education, specialized medical treatment, employment, business, and family emergencies. Students pursuing education on the mainland and patients requiring advanced medical care in cities such as Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi are among those worst affected by the steep airfares.
He further noted that many families are compelled to spend enormous sums to transport critically ill patients by air, including stretcher cases, forcing some to sell their properties to meet travel expenses. He described the situation as financially devastating and unjust for citizens living in a Union Territory where air transport serves as the primary lifeline.
Questioning the absence of fare regulation, Mr. Bhasker observed that while the Government prescribes Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) for basic commodities such as packaged drinking water, there is no ceiling on airline fares despite the essential nature of air connectivity for the Islands. He also expressed concern that airlines have reduced flight frequencies during the off-season, further restricting seat availability and driving up ticket prices.
In his letter, Mr. Bhasker urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take immediate measures, including Directing airlines operating to and from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to maintain reasonable and affordable fares throughout the year, Fixing a maximum ceiling on airfares for all sectors connecting Port Blair with mainland cities to prevent arbitrary fare hikes, Increasing the frequency of flights and encouraging greater competition among airlines to reduce ticket prices, Introducing concessional fares for patients travelling to the mainland for medical treatment and Operating chartered flights during peak travel seasons to meet increased passenger demand.
Mr. Bhasker stated that air travel for the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is not a luxury but an essential service and the only reliable means of connectivity with the mainland. He expressed hope that the Ministry of Civil Aviation would act swiftly to regulate airfare pricing and safeguard the interests of lakhs of islanders and tourists from excessive airfare burdens.
