Port Blair, Jan 12: Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has written a letter to Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India requesting him for resumption of flight services between Port Blair and Vishakhpatnam for the Islanders.
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi in his letter has informed the Union Minister that more than 16% Population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is comprised of the telegu Community who hails from the State of Andhra Pradesh. He further informed that the Telegu Community of the Islands had a long pending demand of providing subsidised flight services between Port Blair and Vishakhpatnam which was fulfilled in the year 2014 with two flights every week. He further added that the frequency of the flights were increased to daily by Air India in 2016 awing to the demand of travel in the sector.
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi in his letter further wrote that for the purpose of specialised medical treatment, higher education, trade, visit to hometown/native place and for pilgrimage the flights are continuously required for the people belonging to the Telugu Community. He further added that but the flights for Vishakhpatnam were discontinued from August 2019.
Mr. Ajoy Bairagi has requested the Union Minister to intervene and re-start the subsidised flight service between Port Blair and Vishakhpatnam at the earliest.