The Manipur government is urgently appealing to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to intervene and alleviate the burden of exorbitant airfares on routes connected to Imphal. This renewed push seeks both a reduction in ticket prices and an increase in the number of flights operating to and from Imphal airport.
Manipur's Additional Chief Secretary (Transport, Textiles, Commerce and Industry), Anurag Bajpai, recently held a crucial meeting with the Secretary of MoCA to address the civil aviation challenges faced by the people of Manipur. During the meeting, Bajpai highlighted that airlines are not adhering to the Government of India's guidelines for capping airfares in the Imphal sector. He also noted a reduction in the number of aircraft deployed by operational airlines in the Imphal sector since October. Bajpai expressed concern over Alliance Air's decision to discontinue services on essential regional routes, including Imphal-Silchar-Imphal, Imphal-Aizawl-Imphal, and Imphal-Dibrugarh-Imphal.
The primary issue raised was the exorbitant airfares charged by various airlines, including IndiGo, Air India Express, and Alliance Air, operating in the Imphal sector, which is causing extreme hardship for the population. Airfares are reportedly five to six times higher compared to other northeastern states. Passengers traveling the short 45-minute Imphal-Guwahati route are now paying between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000, a significant increase from the previous ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. This has resulted in Imphal passengers paying up to seven times more than passengers from other northeastern cities for similar distances. For instance, an Imphal-Guwahati Indigo flight cost around Rs 8,500, while an Imphal-Delhi flight cost around Rs 7,800.
The Manipur government is requesting the Ministry to immediately restore the discontinued routes and bring them back under the Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) to ensure affordability. The state is also reiterating its demand for an international Imphal–Bangkok service, for both passengers and cargo, at least once or twice a week to expand connectivity. Furthermore, the government has suggested inviting carriers such as Akasa Air and Druk Air to operate in the Imphal sector.
Given the disruptions in road connectivity and the lack of operational rail connectivity, air travel remains the only dependable mode of transport for many in Manipur. Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has also voiced his concern over the exorbitant airfares, pointing out the difficulties faced by Manipur's residents due to highway closures and unrest. He urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to address the issue of airlines charging excessively for flights originating from Imphal.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Governor of Manipur had previously written to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, urging immediate intervention to rationalize airfares and enhance flight operations. Following the Governor's appeal, Air India Express announced a fare cap of Rs 6,000 for the Imphal–Guwahati sector and committed to adding two new daily flights, one to Guwahati and another to Kolkata. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is also working to cap airfares at around Rs 7,000. The Centre has approved two new flight services, one each on the Imphal–Guwahati and Imphal–Kolkata routes, to address limited connectivity and high fares.
