Imphal, Nov 4 – Manipur’s governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and senior state officials have asked the Union Minister of Civil Aviation to step in and bring down the sky‑high airfares that are hurting people across the state.
The governor’s letter, signed by Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Bajpai, calls for fair prices and more flights to and from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. It stresses that the high cost of air travel is a social and economic burden, especially since road links are often disrupted and there’s no railway reaching Manipur.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Bajpai met with key officers from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Air India Express, IndiGo, and Alliance Air. He pointed out that fares from Imphal to places like Guwahati are up to seven times higher than the same routes in other Northeast states. One example: a 45‑minute hop to Guwahati now can cost between ₹10,000–₹15,000, compared with ₹2,000–₹3,000 a few years ago.
Air traffic is vital in a state where alternative transport is limited. “Air travel is the only reliable option for many Manipur residents,” Bajpai said. He urged airlines to align pricing with other Northeast routes and keep flight frequencies steady even in winter.
The meeting also asked Alliance Air to restart suspended services on the Imphal–Silchar, Imphal–Aizawl and Imphal–Dibrugarh routes. Air India Express and IndiGo were requested to launch new flights to Bangkok, a route most people want.
Bajpai re‑affirmed the state’s commitment to keep Manipur connected and economically vibrant. He called on the national aviation authorities, airlines and other stakeholders to consider social equity when setting airline tickets, especially for regions like Manipur that have limited transportation options.
Source: ianslive
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