Port Blair, Jan 08: With a view to provide affordable air travel between Mainland-Island sector, the A&N Administration is making necessary arrangements to reserve 10 seats (approx) in scheduled flights on Port Blair-Chennai-Port Blair and Port Blair-Kolkata-Port Blair sectors. This arrangement is to mitigate the problems faced by the general public while commuting between Mainland-Island due to prevailing high airfare on this sector. The passengers willing to avail this facility have to book their tickets a week before the date of travel. The date from which this facility will be made available shall be announced shortly.
In a press release today Mr. Mohanjeet Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (CA) today said that in order to further ease-out the problems, the Administration is in the process to operate chartered flights between Port Blair-Chennai-Port Blair and Port Blair-Kolkata-Port Blair sectors. The tender for this will be floated shortly by the Administration.
“Similarly, arrangements are at final stage to operate chartered flights between Port Blair – Car Nicobar – Port Blair sector. Air India has agreed to provide one 70 seater CRJ-700 aircraft to operate between Port Blair and Car Nicobar weekly once,” he added.
Singh added that a team of officers from DGCA, BCAS, IAF and other concerned agencies will be visiting Car Nicobar on 15th January, 2014 to conduct safety audit of the airfield at Car Nicobar to ensure compliance of Civil Aviation Requirements for Civil Air operations ex-Car Nicobar.
If implemented properly this may be proved life savior for many. However, a transparent and fair system should be in place for people to avail the facility. Else will not be surprising to know the scheme becoming the quick-buck making machines for people who has reach to authorities concerned.