BJP demands restoration of airfare for stretcher patients

Port Blair, June 3 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded restoration of the airfare for the stretcher patients from the remote Indian islands who were taken to mainland India, for specialized treatment.

Talking to reporters here, BJP State president Vishal Jolly expressed anguish over the exorbitant fare charged for the stretcher patients of the islands.

The airfare for the stretcher patients from the remote islands has been increased from Rs 13650 in 2003 to Rs 76065 from May this year on Port Blair-Kolkata sector and Rs 12445 to Rs 70045 on Port Blair-Chennai sector, which is too much for the islanders, Mr Jolly said.

He said that all islanders could not afford such an increase in airfare, when they were going for costly specialized treatment to mainland India.

UNI