Lakshadweep MP demands rollback of ship fare hike

MP Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed demands immediate roll back of Lakshadweep ship fare hike, citing lack of justification and transparency.

Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, Member of Parliament (MP), has demanded immediate rollback of the hike in ship fare to and from Lakshadweep.

“This steep escalation, particularly the 42.4% hike in bunk class fares, which disproportionately burdens low-income and marginalised residents, appears excessive, arbitrary, and devoid of proportionality in relation to service quality, economic indices, or public justification,” he said in a letter dated June 6 addressed to Praful Patel, Lakshadweep administrator.

He alleged that the revision has been imposed without any public consultation, stakeholder engagement, or transparent justification, thereby rendering the process procedurally infirm and in violation of the principles of natural justice and fair public administration. The fare hike warranted urgent reconsideration and structured review, he said.

The letter stated that the fare revision order fails to disclose any cost analysis, operational expense breakdown, or methodology that would reasonably justify the steep increase in passenger fares. “The absence of such data undermines the principle of reasoned decision-making as mandated under Article 14 of the Constitution, and renders the order non-speaking and arbitrary in nature,” it said.

Mr. Sayeed said that the revised fare structure imposes an undue financial burden on categories of passengers for whom travel constitutes an essential service, especially students and patients.

“Particularly egregious is the complete absence of any concessional or subsidised fare provision for students, who frequently rely on inter-island and mainland transport for educational purposes. This omission stands in stark contradiction to the principles of equity and affirmative protection enshrined under Article 15(4) and Article 21, thereby disproportionately impacting the right to education and access to essential services,” he said.