Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has appealed to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to bring the Imphal–Guwahati air corridor under the regional connectivity scheme, citing persistent transportation challenges faced by people in the state.
Emphasising the urgency of improved air services, the Chief Minister stated that dependable flight connectivity for Manipur is not merely a matter of comfort but a basic necessity for its residents.
In his communication to the Union Minister, Singh said, “I am reaching out to highlight the issues currently impacting the flight connectivity of the state. The airfare for routes linking Manipur, particularly on the Imphal-Guwahati-Imphal route, remains significantly higher compared to similar routes in other NE states with comparable travel distances.”
Alternative transport options in Manipur are limited mainly due to frequent disruptions in road connectivity and the current non-operational railway services, he said.
He further mentioned that the Manipur government has already reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 20 per cent to 1 per cent in a bid to promote better air connectivity and boost tourism.
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Seeking the Centre’s support, the Chief Minister requested personal intervention for the inclusion of the Imphal–Guwahati–Imphal route under the RCS-UDAN scheme, saying such a move would ease travel hardships and contribute to the state’s broader socio-economic growth.
The UDAN initiative was introduced as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy in 2016, with a long-term vision of improving connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities through a financially supported, market-oriented framework.
