Officials moot Delhi to Imphal night flight

    20-May-2019


By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 19: Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Dr Guruprasad Mohapattra and State Government officials today discussed about introducing a direct flight from Delhi to Imphal at night.
Guruprasad Mohapattra who arrived here on May 17 had already reviewed the infrastructure development works being taken up at Imphal airport together with Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu before calling on Governor Dr Najma Heptulla at the Raj Bhavan today.
During a meeting with the AAI Chairman, State Government officials presented a proposal to introduce a direct flight from Delhi to Imphal at night with the return flight scheduled early next morning. 
In response, the AAI Chairman demanded the State Government to give certain VAT (Value Added Tax) concession on aviation fuel needed for the particular night flight. The State Government officials assured that the particular demand would be discussed positively, conveyed a source.
Other sources conveyed that some other airlines have expressed keen desire to operate flight services to and from Imphal international airport at night.
The AAI Chairman and the State Government officials further discussed about the cargo terminal being constructed by MANIDCO at Imphal airport and also construction of an international terminal at the eastern side of the airport.
Drawing of the international terminal’s design has been already completed but the tender process is due. It is said that construction of the international terminal should be completed by 2022.
The terminal would have a solar plant of 250 KW capacity.
As a part of its corporate social responsibility, AAI would construct a trauma centre at Tengnoupal along Imphal-Moreh highway at the cost of Rs 4.56 crore. Moreover, it would present an ambulance to the State Government, said the source.
Guruprasad Mohapattra also agreed to carry out route mapping for introduction of KBZ airline’s flight service between Imphal and Mandalay.
The route mapping is necessary as the existing arrangement requires KBZ flights to fly over Mizoram  which means it will take one hour and a half to reach Imphal from Mandalay.
It is reported that KBZ airline is keen to introduce Imphal-Mandalay flight service from July or August this year.