Manipur urges Centre to curb soaring airfares, seeks additional flights to Imphal

The Manipur government is appealing to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to address the issue of exorbitant airfares on routes connected to Imphal airport. Manipur officials report that airlines such as IndiGo, Air India Express, and Alliance Air are charging fares five to six times higher than those in other northeastern states, allegedly violating Indian government guidelines on airfare capping. The government also notes a reduction in the number of flights operated by these airlines since October.

Manipur's Additional Chief Secretary has requested the MoCA to advise Alliance Air to reinstate services on essential routes like Imphal-Silchar-Imphal, Imphal-Aizawl-Imphal, and Imphal-Dibrugarh-Imphal, potentially under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik (RCS-UDAN). The appeal also includes a request to initiate international passenger and cargo services from Imphal to Bangkok to promote exports, suggesting Akasa Air and Druk Air be considered for the Imphal sector.

To meet the inter-district demand for air services, the Manipur government is also seeking an increase in the number of helicopters operated by Pawan Hans and GVHL. Concerns were raised about Pawan Hans charging more than GVHL for the same routes, which is allegedly against the agreement with MoCA under RCS-UDAAN. The state government has also reiterated its long-pending request to rename Imphal International Airport as Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.

The high airfares and reduced flight availability are causing significant hardship for the people of Manipur, hindering connectivity and economic activity. The Manipur government's intervention seeks to restore affordable and accessible air travel options for the region.