PB-Mumbai available at less than Rs 8000/-, PB-Kolkata/Chennai at Rs 12,000/- plus
Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 16: There were rumours that the Japanese Government, while vacating Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the World War-II in 1945, demanded the then Indian Government to hand over the islands to them to develop it as Japan’s overseas territory. Though the government then did not agree to the Japanese demand, exorbitant airfares to and fro the capital of these islands, has made the islands chain indeed a Japan’s Overseas Territory.
Air tickets in the Port Blair-Chennai and Port Blair-Kolkata sectors, some years ago, were available at very nominal rates, even below Rs 5000/- at times. But tickets in the sectors now cost nowhere less then Rs 10,000/- for a one day trip from Port Blair to mainland or vice versa. Costs often surge to unbelievable levels from Rs 15,000/- to Rs 30,000/-, which is too exorbitant for any class of passenger particularly middle class islanders. But sharp variations in rates for travel between Port Blair to other destinations in the country clearly indicate at airline operators exploiting the rich bounties of nature at the cost of locals here.
A peek at rates offered by various airline companies for travel between Port Blair to various other cities in mainland in the month of May this year proves the disparity. For travel from Port Blair to Mumbai via Chennai on May 20, a one way ticket costs Rs 12,000/- and from Port Blair to Mumbai via Kolkata, the airline company offers fare of about Rs 7500/-. Further, a one way journey from Port Blair to Mumbai via Kolkata and from Port Blair to Mumbai via New Delhi is available for just about Rs 6500/-. Shockingly, a one day trip from Port Blair to Kolkata or Chennai costs islanders dearly for nowhere less than Rs 10,000/-.
What kind of ticketing system is this, shouts a furious resident of Aberdeen Bazar. “I was shocked to discover the sharp variations in airfares on internet today. Travel to Mumbai via Kolkata or Chennai or New Delhi is available for less Rs 10,000/-. But no direct flight to Chennai or Kolkata is offered at nominal charges by airline companies. This is sheer exploitation of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by private airline operators and the islanders are forced to reel under skyrocketing airfares. The UT Administration should view this seriously and lodge complaint with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.”
