Imphal: Manipur legislator Th. Biswajit Singh has urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to take urgent steps to restore and increase flight operations from Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, citing growing inconvenience to the public due to a sharp decline in air services.
In a letter addressed to the Union Minister, Thongju MLA Biswajit Singh noted that the number of daily flights operating from the airport has dropped to just eight, with only two currently serving the crucial Imphal–Guwahati sector.
He said the reduced frequency has led to higher airfares and ticket shortages, severely impacting passengers — particularly patients, students, and government officials — who rely on regular travel between the two northeastern cities.
“Guwahati serves as the primary aviation hub for the entire North Eastern region, connecting the states of the Northeast with the rest of India,” Singh stated.
Pointing out that Manipur’s challenging terrain makes air travel essential, the MLA expressed concern that limited connectivity has hampered business, education, healthcare, tourism, and overall economic activities in the state.
He said, “The people of Manipur have long depended on air travel as a vital means of connectivity due to the state’s geographical and terrain challenges. The present situation has not only affected day-to-day travel but has also hampered business, educational, and healthcare mobility, besides impacting tourism and economic activities in the region.”
He requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to intervene and consult with airlines to increase the number of daily flights, especially on the Imphal–Guwahati route, to ensure affordable and reliable air connectivity for the people of Manipur.
“Enhanced frequency would greatly ease the travel difficulties of the public and ensure that air connectivity from Manipur remains affordable and accessible,” Singh added.
Meanwhile, former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday expressed concern over airlines charging “exorbitant fares” between Imphal and Guwahati, and sought the civil aviation ministry’s intervention.
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“For more than two-and-a-half years, people of Manipur have suffered due to highway closures and unrest, making flights the only way in and out of Imphal. Yet airlines continue to charge exorbitant fares, with a 45-minute flight to Guwahati costing more than a 3-hour flight to Delhi,” he said in a post on X.
