Sri Vijaya Puram, July 11:

Shri TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has written to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, urging immediate intervention to regulate the high airfares charged by airlines operating between the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and major mainland cities.

In his representation, Shri Bhasker stated that airfare on routes connecting Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) with Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and other mainland destinations has become unaffordable for ordinary citizens. Referring to his own recent travel experience, he said a one-way journey from Delhi to Port Blair for two passengers cost ₹73,662, highlighting what he described as the alarming escalation in ticket prices.

He argued that it is unreasonable for Indian citizens to pay more for domestic travel to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands than for international flights to several foreign destinations. According to him, such pricing places an excessive financial burden on island residents while also discouraging tourism and affecting visitor arrivals.

Shri Bhasker emphasized that the people of the islands rely almost entirely on air transport for higher education, specialized medical treatment, employment, business and family emergencies. Students studying on the mainland and patients requiring advanced medical care in cities such as Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi are among those most affected by the rising airfare.

He further pointed out that many families are forced to spend enormous amounts to transport critically ill patients by air, including stretcher cases, with some reportedly selling their properties to meet travel expenses. He described the situation as financially devastating for residents of a Union Territory where air connectivity serves as the primary lifeline.

Questioning the absence of airfare regulation, Shri Bhasker observed that while the government fixes Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) for essential commodities such as packaged drinking water, there is no ceiling on airline fares despite air travel being an essential service for island residents. He also expressed concern that airlines often reduce flight frequencies during the off-season, limiting seat availability and contributing to higher ticket prices.

In his letter, Shri Bhasker requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to:

  • Direct airlines to maintain affordable fares throughout the year.
  • Fix a maximum ceiling on airfares for routes connecting the islands with mainland cities.
  • Increase flight frequencies and encourage greater competition among airlines.
  • Introduce concessional fares for patients travelling for medical treatment.
  • Operate additional chartered flights during peak travel seasons to meet passenger demand.

He stated that air travel for the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is not a luxury but an essential public service, expressing hope that the Ministry would take prompt action to protect the interests of lakhs of island residents and tourists from excessive airfare burdens.