Amid rising airfares and shrinking flight options, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has urged the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to take urgent measures to restore and enhance air connectivity from Imphal, particularly to Guwahati and Kolkata. His appeal comes as the people of Manipur continue to face severe travel hardships due to the drastic reduction in flights and unaffordable ticket prices.
In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, the Governor termed the situation “alarming,” noting that the number of daily flights between Imphal and Guwahati has dropped from five to two, and those to Kolkata from five to just two. The absence of early morning and late evening services has further disrupted travel plans for students, patients, and professionals.
Underlining the absence of railway connectivity and gullible road routes connecting Manipur, he said air travel remained the only dependable mode of long-distance movement for most of its residents. The sudden surge in airfare rates has put unbearable strain on the financial burden of the general public, especially during the winter months, as demand tends to go up for educational and health purposes.
In response to the growing concern, the Centre has cleared two new flight services–one each on the Imphal–Guwahati and Imphal–Kolkata routes–to ease the connectivity crisis. Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh shared the development on X, saying the decision followed discussions between MLA Susindro and senior officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry in Delhi.
Officials also confirmed that steps are being taken to operationalize these fresh flights as soon as possible. The Ministry has also prepared a proposal for capping the airfare at around Rs 7,000, which is expected to bring immediate succor for passengers reeling under steep ticket prices.
Chief Minister Biren Singh termed the move as a reflection of the central leadership’s commitment to addressing the “genuine concerns of the people of Manipur in a timely and positive manner.”
On its part, Raj Bhavan has said it is closely monitoring the issue to ensure that effective steps are taken without delay. For now, however, the people of Imphal have been consistently in the grip of travel problems as limited connectivity and exorbitant air fares deepen the mobility crisis in the state.