Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Oct 11: As the festive season and December approach, people of Andaman and Nicobar Island and mainland are facing an alarming hike in airfares in Port Blair- Mainland sector. Current ticket prices between Chennai and Port Blair are soaring, ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 in the next few days. Even booking 23 days in advance only lowers the fare to 9,000 to 12,000, with prices expected to spike back to 15,000 to 20,000 in December.
This cyclical issue, which occurs annually and stretches until the second week of January, has deeply upset Islanders. Despite the administration’s awareness of the problem, no concrete steps have been taken to control airfare prices. During this season, a large number of students return home, but due to exorbitant airfares many have to drop the plan to return home to celebrate festivals. Many are forced to stay away from home, despite hostel canteens being closed.
Moreover, this price surge isn’t just a financial burden on students. Patients requiring medical treatments on the mainland are also severely affected. The situation is so dire that general public are not requesting the Administration to intervene and charter aircraft from any private airlines for the next three months to ease the burden.
Islanders are urging the administration to take immediate measures, such as increasing the number of flights or chartering an aircraft, to bring relief to the islanders during this critical period.
There was a time when chartered flight used to be operated as many as three sectors, Port Blair- Kolkata, Port Blair- Chennai and Port Blair Vizag but sadly efforts are not being made at present. It seems that the Administration has left Islanders to suffer with high airfare, power crisis, bad road etc.
True. It is quite a loot by the airlines. Airfares within India from Delhi to Port Blair are much higher than even the international travel to many neighbouring countries. The government should fix upper limits on the air fairs.
It’s a very major issue from past few years which really effect the islanders,.But administration becomes blind and helpless.
Public also became dump and dough