Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has urged Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to investigate the soaring airfares from Manipur to other destinations.
Speaking via video conferencing during the launch of three new Alliance Air flight routes funded by the state government under the Viability Gap Funding scheme, Singh expressed concern over the prohibitive ticket prices that burden common citizens.
Highlighting the issue, Singh pointed out that flights from Delhi to Imphal now cost nearly ₹20,000, while fares for the Imphal-Guwahati route range between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000. “How can ordinary people afford such high prices?” he asked, urging the Civil Aviation Ministry to send a team to assess the situation and implement measures to reduce fares.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of affordable air travel, given the ongoing challenges in the state. “Manipur has been facing a difficult time for the last 20 months. Highways are not accessible due to the prevailing crisis, and people from regions like Churachandpur and Kangpokpi are unable to travel by road,” Singh explained. He emphasized that the state’s 18 lakh population, especially those in the Imphal Valley, rely heavily on flights to travel outside Manipur.
Singh extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Civil Aviation Ministry for their support in launching the new Alliance Air services, which aim to enhance connectivity for Manipur. The new routes include Imphal-Guwahati (morning), Imphal-Kolkata (evening), and Imphal-Dimapur flights.
In a social media post, Singh expressed his enthusiasm for the development, stating, “Pleased to announce the launch of Imphal-Guwahati-Imphal, Imphal-Kolkata-Imphal, and Imphal-Dimapur-Imphal flight services aimed at improving connectivity and accessibility for the people of Manipur.”
He further noted that the airfare for these new routes has been capped at a maximum of ₹5,000, making travel more affordable for residents. Singh reiterated his call for additional flights and direct connections to major cities like Delhi and Kolkata to further ease travel challenges.
The introduction of these flights is seen as a significant step in improving Manipur’s connectivity and addressing the needs of its population during challenging times.
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