Port Blair, May 19: The Congress Campaign Committee Chairman, A&N Islands Mr. TSG Bhasker on Friday wrote a letter to the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands for bringing his attention towards the exorbitant Air Fares between the A&N Islands and mainland India.
In the letter, Mr. Bhasker stated that the Air Fares have increased abnormally between Port Blair to Chennai, Port Blair to Kolkata and Port Blair to Delhi sectors which have caused tremendous hardships among the Islanders including students, patients and others going to the mainland for spending holidays.
“Air and Ship services are the only means of traveling for the Islanders. But Ship services have been very erratic due to the withdrawal of services of Nicobar and Nancowry ships”, he said.
He added that the high Air Fare has also caused trouble to the tourism sector and those Islanders whose income were dependent on tourism.
Mr. Bhasker exhorted that the Air Fare for traveling to destinations outside India such as Middle East Countries, South East Asian Countries as well as Vietnam and Cambodia is mere Rs. 15,000. Because of the huge Air Fare for traveling to A&N Islands, the tourists are now finding international travel is cheaper which also has better products to offer.
“We understand from the Daily Telegrams that you had met the Minister of Civil Aviation at Delhi and we hope that your visit would have addressed the grievances of the general public of our Islands regarding the Air Fares”, he added. Mr. Bhasker requested the Lt. Governor to enlighten the general public about the actions taken so far for controlling the Air Fares in the Islands.