Port Blair, Mar 15: Andaman Sheekha reporters have been regularly speaking to a cross section of passengers who have availed the chartered flight service from Port Blair – Kolkata and Kolkata – Port Blair to get firsthand information of their experience. By and large the passengers are highly satisfied and have expressed their gratitude to the Lt Governor for fulfilling his promise.
They also appreciated the tireless efforts of the Lt Governor to make this possible. The efforts of the Administration also need to be appreciated for service being provided keeping in mind the passenger comfort. The Kolkata – Port Blair and Port Blair – Kolkata Chartered flights started on the 25th February and around 550 islanders have been benefited out this service till now, it is learnt.
Most of the passengers were highly satisfied by the service and behavior of the ticketing staff in the DRC’s office at Kolkata. However, a very small section of Kolkata passengers were unhappy over the fact that they have to visit the DRC’s Office twice to obtain the ticket. Some have written to the CS in this regard.
Andaman Sheekha when investigated it is learnt that in Kolkata the tickets are booked and issued from the office of the Deputy Resident Commissioner, Andaman & Nicobar Administration situated at the Andaman & Nicobar Bhavan, DP-7, Sector –V, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700091. The passengers are required to visit the DRC’s office twice, once to submit their application along with their ID proof and on the second time to collect their printed tickets.
“These passengers need to understand the fact that the tickets are not issued by the DRC’s office, the tickets are required to be collected from the Air India’s Regional Office at the city which is around 22 kilometers away and handed over to the passengers,” said a source in Administration.
He added that the tickets are issued by Air India in two or three lots. The passengers who cannot collect their tickets from the DRC’s office can also collect their tickets from the Kolkata Airport from the representative of the DRC’s office near the Air India counter.
“The previous chartered flight on the 10th March was rescheduled on the day of the flight from 2100 hrs to 1930 hrs. Most of the passengers were not aware of the change. The DRC’s office did a smart and commendable job by personally contacting each and every passenger over telephone and informing the change of schedule,” he added.
One has to keep in mind that telephone lines are always not available. However, in view of these uncertainties it is worth the inconvenience to collect their tickets from the DRC’s office in advance to avoid last minute confusion and anxiety.
Most importantly, when cross checked Andaman Sheekha has been told that it is not that the tickets are only issued from DRC office and it is mandatory for all to come and collect tickets from the office. One staff of the DRC office is sent to Airport on the day of Chartered Flight to handover tickets to those who can’t collect from DRC office. So there are actually two options available for public, which every passenger must know.
