Imphal: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has approved two new daily flights, one each on the Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Kolkata routes. Additionally, Air India Express has announced a fare cap of Rs 6,000 on the Imphal–Guwahati sector.
The decision follows an urgent appeal from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who sought the Centre’s intervention to restore and improve air connectivity from Imphal. In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Bhalla described the situation as “alarming,” noting that daily flights to Guwahati and Kolkata have dropped from five to two. The lack of early morning and late evening services, he said, has severely impacted students, patients and professionals who depend on air travel.
Highlighting that Manipur lacks rail links and faces unreliable road connectivity, the Governor termed air travel the state’s “lifeline.” He also pointed out that the surge in fares has created an “unbearable financial burden” on residents, particularly during winter when travel demand rises.
Responding swiftly, the MoCA cleared two new flight services and Air India Express agreed to cap fares while introducing the additional flights. Raj Bhavan, in a social media post, thanked the ministry and the airline for their “prompt response” and said detailed schedules will be announced soon.
Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh also confirmed the development, stating that the decision followed MLA Susindro’s meeting with senior Civil Aviation officials in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the ministry is reportedly working on a broader proposal to cap airfares at around Rs 7,000, offering further relief to passengers.
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