Agartala: Tripura’s Transport and Tourism Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, has taken proactive measures to address rising airfare concerns on the Agartala-Kolkata route and to push for the development of MBB Airport as an international hub.
In two letters addressed to key officials, Chowdhury highlighted significant issues affecting air travel for residents of Tripura.
In his letter to Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), Chowdhury expressed alarm over the skyrocketing ticket prices, which have reportedly reached between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 for a flight covering just 327 kilometers.
He noted that this matter was previously raised by members of the Tripura Legislative Assembly during a session on September 5, 2024. Chowdhury urged IndiGo to consider implementing a maximum price limit for these flights to safeguard the interests of passengers, especially in light of the cancellation of three flights from the Agartala-Kolkata sector.
The minister also pointed out that the upcoming replacement of smaller ATR flights with larger Airbus aircraft would reduce the total number of available seats, compounding the issue of limited air travel options. Chowdhury’s letter calls for IndiGo to reconsider the cancellation and maintain the current flight services in the interest of the public.
In a separate letter to Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Chowdhury expressed concerns regarding the slow progress of establishing international flights on the Agartala-Chittagong route. He sought updates on the status of declaring MBB Airport as an Immigration Check Post and ultimately as an international airport, emphasizing the need for timely developments in this area.
These appeals reflect the government’s commitment to enhancing air travel infrastructure and ensuring affordability for residents in Tripura. The minister’s initiatives aim to facilitate better connectivity and support the growing demand for air travel in the region.