NGOs' demand earmarked tickets for islanders in flights

The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has demanded  that  all the airlines operating between Port Blair and mainland sectors should earmark 25% of  the tickets in each flight in the low fare category  exclusively for the  residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  In a resolution adopted in the Central Secretariat meeting of the Association held at Crusade House, Phoenix Bay, Port Blair today (28.12.2013),  the  Association demanded that these tickets should be  issued to the islanders  at a fare not more than Rs. 5000 per ticket  for Port Blair- Kolkatta/Chennai sectors.  The meeting  noted that  the airlines operating between Port Blair and mainland  used to refuel   at Port Blair Airport   and the   cost of  aviation turbine fuel is  less in A & N Islands as compared to mainland as  sales tax is exempted in the islands being a union territory.  The meeting noted that  despite having a number of additional flights being operated in the Port Blair-mainland sectors,  islanders do not get  tickets in these flights even for emergency purpose and  the airlines are found  selling the tickets at  higher rates  without any  check from any authorities.   The meeting further noted with concern that despite repeated requests made by various organisations in the islands, the airlines operating between Port Blair – Chennai/Kolkatta sectors do not fix any maximum fare and they are squeezing the   islanders.  People who wish to visit mainland for any emergency purpose and patients who are required to proceed to mainland for specialised medical treatment  are not getting any ticket and they are  put at the mercy of these  airlines and unscrupulous travel agents.   The meeting of the Association demanded to take immediate steps by the Govt. Of India and A & N Administration to ensure that islanders get tickets in the  flights operated by  Air India as well as private airlines  at  reasonable fare.   Shri HL Prasad presided over the meeting while Shri D. Ayyappan, General Secretary and Shri TS Sreekumar, Asst. General Secretary spoke.