New Delhi/Imphal: The Manipur government has pressed the Centre once again to rein in soaring airfares on Imphal-bound routes and restore flights that airlines have withdrawn in recent months, officials said on Saturday.
In a meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Secretary, Manipur’s Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Bajpai detailed the “severe hardship” faced by passengers as carriers continue to charge fares five to six times higher than those in other Northeast states.
He flagged repeated violations of the government’s fare-capping guidelines and pointed out that airlines, including IndiGo, Air India Express and Alliance Air, have cut aircraft deployment to Imphal since October.
Bajpai also raised concerns over Alliance Air discontinuing key regional links such as Imphal–Silchar, Imphal–Aizawl and Imphal–Dibrugarh.
He urged the Ministry to direct an immediate restoration of these routes and to bring them back under RCS-UDAN to ensure affordability.
Calling for expanded connectivity, the state government reiterated its demand for an international Imphal–Bangkok service, both passenger and cargo, at least once or twice a week.
Suggestions were also made to invite carriers such as Akasa Air and Druk Air to operate in the Imphal sector.
Highlighting growing inter-district travel needs, Bajpai asked the Ministry to increase helicopter services, noting that only one aircraft each from Pawan Hans and GVHL is currently operational.
He flagged complaints that Pawan Hans is charging passengers more than GVHL for identical sorties, in violation of its UDAN agreement.
During the meeting, the state also reminded the Centre of its pending proposal to rename Imphal International Airport after Bir Tikendrajit.
