Addl CS takes up exorbitant air fare, other civil aviation issues with MoCA

IMPHAL, Nov 15
Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport & TCI) took up the civil avia-tion challenges being faced by the people of Manipur with the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
During a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Secretary, MoCA on November 10, 2025 at New Delhi, Bajpai raised various issues of civil aviation in the State of Manipur. The meeting was attended by the concerned Joint Secretary and Director of the Ministry.
The Additional Chief Secretary raised the prime issue of exorbitant air fare being charged by various airlines, namely INDIGO, Air India Express and Alliance Air, operating in Imphal sector causing extreme hardship to the people.
It was conveyed that air fares being charged by these airlines in Imphal sector are almost five to six times of air fares charged by them in the other seven States of North East Region (NER).
Guidelines of the Government of India for capping of air fare are not being followed by them in Imphal sector, Anurag Bajpai said at the meeting.
It was further informed that the number of aircrafts has also been reduced by all the operational airlines from October, 2025 in Imphal sector.
Bajpai highlighted that Alliance Air has stopped services in certain extremely essential sector, namely Imphal-Silchar-Imphal; Imphal-Aizawl- Imphal; and Imphal-Dibrugarh-Imphal.
Keeping in view the huge public demand, he urged the Secretary, MoCA to advise Alliance Air to revive their services in these sectors immediately.
It was also requested to consider these sectors for coverage under RCS Udan as earlier.
Bajpai also underscored the urgent need to start international flight service from Imphal to Bangkok (both passenger & cargo) at least once or twice a week to start with as it is in high demand from industry associations and general public to promote exports.
He also suggested that keeping in view the available slots, Akasa Air and Druk Air may also be considered to start their services in this sector.
In order to meet huge inter-districts demand of air services, the Additional Chief Secretary requested the  Secretary, MoCA to advise helicopter companies to increase number of machines.
At present, both companies namely; Pawan Hans and GVHL are operating only one machine.
Further, it was also conveyed that Pawan Hans charges more than GVHL for same sortie from passengers, which is against the agreement with MoCA under RCS Udan.
The ticket fare of GVHL comes around Rs 2500 per person whereas Pawan Hans charges around Rs 3500 per person.
The Additional Chief Secretary suggested that Pawan Hans should consider all the routes as GVHL does. He also requested the Secretary, MoCA to consider sanction of helipads at Kamjong, Senapati & Ukhrul districts as a special case.
He also sought attention of the Secretary, MoCA for expeditious consideration of the long pending request of Government of Manipur for renaming Imphal International Airport as Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.