Biren Singh raises concern on exorbitant air fares

IMPHAL — Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to look into the report of airlines charging exorbitant fares for flights originating from Manipur state capital.

Sharing a news report about air fares being cheaper for longer distances compared to shorter ones on X on Monday, Singh wrote, “For more than two and a half years, people of Manipur have suffered due to highway closures and unrest, making flights the only way in and out of Imphal. Yet airlines continue to charge exorbitant fares, with a 45-minute flight to Guwahati costing more than a 3-hour flight to Delhi.”

“This is nothing short of daylight robbery against passengers who have no other travel option,” he said. “I urge the Hon’ble Civil Aviation Minister Shri @RamMNK to look into this matter urgently and ensure that airlines stop exploiting passengers with unfair pricing. Airfares to and from Imphal must be rationalised immediately in the interest of the people.”

Singh’s post on X came a day after a key functionary of a well-known travel agent in Imphal in a Facebook post on Sunday informed that air ticket rate of the Imphal to Delhi flight was cheaper than Imphal to Guwahati (for November 3). The Imphal to Delhi flight cost (of a private airline) was INR 11,537 while Imphal to Guwahati was INR 14,646.

In his Facebook post, H Radhakrishna Sharma, who is also the state-in charge of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) wrote, “Can you believe that Imphal to Delhi flights on November 3rd which take around 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours, are cheaper than Imphal to Guwahati flights that take just 35-45 minutes? It's outrageous that we're being taken advantage of by airlines using dynamic pricing, especially during this time of ethnic violence when we have no choice but to fly.”

“Isn't it unfair to charge exorbitant fares to people travelling out of necessity when road travel has been impossible for the past 2.5 years? Shouldn't the authorities step in to regulate such price gouging?” he questioned.

“It feels like Manipur is being left to fend for itself, bearing the brunt of unjust policies and politics,” he added.

With the closing of both the two National Highway 2 and 37 which

Manipur is facing a transportation crisis after National Highways 2 and 37 were closed following ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, leaving air travel as the primary link to the rest of the country.

However, authorities haven't taken sufficient action to address the challenges faced by the people, such as reopening the highways for safe travel or regulating airfare prices.