IMPHAL, Nov 5: Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport/Textiles, Commerce & Industry) and PCCF & HoFF on Tuesday held meeting with key officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI), Air India Express, INDIGO and Alliance Air on exorbitant Airfare hike and limited operations in Imphal sector. The meeting was attended by Director (Transport) and Joint Secretary (Transport).

ACS Bajpai emphasized that at present airfare for Imphal sector is significantly higher than those on comparable routes in other North Eastern States, even when journey distances are analogous. Officials voiced concerns that airlines may be imposing elevated fares on high‐demand routes of Manipur as a mechanism to offset losses on less‐profitable ones, thereby imposing an undue burden on the people of the State.

Due to intermittent disruptions of road connectivity and absence of rail connectivity, air transport is the only viable mode of travel in Manipur. Consequently, airfare rates have surged abnormally. For instance, the fare for the short Imphal–Guwahati route, a 45-minute journey, has reportedly spiked from ₹2,000–₹3,000 to as high as ₹10,000–₹15,000 recently. A comparative study shows flyers from Imphal are paying up to seven times more than their counterparts in other North-Eastern cities flying comparable distances to Guwahati.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur has already written to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, urging immediate intervention to rationalise airfares and improve flight operations to and from Manipur. The letter highlights the social and economic strain caused by the high airfare regime and requests the Ministry to take remedial measures in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline operators.

ACS stressed the need for greater transparency in fare‐structures and a coordinated regulatory framework between airlines and AAI. He emphasised that given the disruptions in the surface transport and the absence of functional railway connectivity, air travel is indispensable in Manipur and that the current high fares are causing significant hardship to the public.

Air being the only viable mode of transport, ACS asked the officials representing Airlines to maintain airfare structure at par with other NE States and also the summer‐level flight frequencies throughout the winter period. He further asked Alliance Air officials for reintroduction of air services between Imphal-Silchar, Imphal – Aizawl & Imphal- Dibrugarh to restore regional connectivity that has been suspended. He further asked Air India Express and INDIGO officials to consider Imphal- Bangkok Passenger and Cargo services being high in demand.

The Additional Chief Secretary reiterated the commitment of the Government to ensure that connectivity-both physical and economic-is preserved and enhanced for its citizens. It calls upon the national aviation authorities, airlines and other stakeholders to broaden the lens of social equity when pricing air travel, especially for regions such as Manipur with limited transport alternatives.