News Reporter
Imphal: In a move to address escalating airfares, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday requested Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to dispatch a team to assess the sharp rise in ticket prices for flights from the state to other destinations.
The appeal was made via video conferencing during the launch of three new Alliance Air flight services under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme initiated by the Manipur government. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Civil Aviation Ministry, Singh highlighted their role in facilitating improved air connectivity for Manipur.
The newly introduced Alliance Air services will connect Imphal to Kolkata, Guwahati, and Dimapur starting this week. However, Singh pointed out the financial burden posed by soaring airfares, saying, “The cost of air tickets has risen significantly. Flights from Delhi to Imphal are priced as high as ₹20,000, while tickets for Imphal to Guwahati range between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000. This makes air travel unaffordable for common people.”
Highlighting the challenges faced by residents, Singh said, “Manipur has been enduring a difficult phase for the past 20 months. Due to the prevailing crisis, highways are unsafe, and people from Churachandpur and Kangpokpi cannot rely on road travel. Consequently, the 18 lakh residents of the Imphal Valley are heavily dependent on air travel.”
The Chief Minister urged the Civil Aviation Minister to take immediate measures to address the situation. “I kindly request you to send a team to evaluate the airfare structure. Additionally, providing more direct flights to Delhi and Kolkata at reasonable prices will be immensely beneficial,” he stated.
In a social media post, Singh expressed optimism about the new flight services, writing, “Delighted to announce the launch of Imphal-Guwahati-Imphal (Morning), Imphal-Kolkata-Imphal (Evening), and Imphal-Dimapur-Imphal routes. These flights, operated by Alliance Air under the State Government-funded VGF scheme, aim to enhance connectivity and accessibility for the people of Manipur. Ticket prices for these routes have been capped at ₹5,000.”
The initiative marks a significant step toward alleviating travel challenges for Manipur's residents while underscoring the need for broader efforts to ensure affordable and accessible air travel options.