Rushing in to claim credit Positive move from Raj Bhavan
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It was with a reason why The Sangai Express took upon itself to go all out in covering the exorbitant airfare structure on the Imphal-Gauhati sector for two consecutive days but it should be clear that this initiative came rather late in the day. Fare hike or exorbitant airfare on this sector did not happen today or yesterday or last month, but has been a painful reality after Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023. One wonders whether the matter was put before the notice of the Civil Aviation Ministry earlier or not but it was with a reason why The Sangai Express thought it fit to publish a front page news on the advisory issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation to all airlines in India to rationalise the airfare ahead of the Diwali rush for flight tickets. In contrast nothing of substance was said about Manipur, though airfare has been rising with each passing day after May 3, 2023. The reason should be clear to all. With the highways literally off limits for the Meiteis, air travel is the only option left whenever there is a need to go outside the State and the sharp increase in airfare is not a recent reality. Back then nothing much was heard of any efforts taken up to present the case of Manipur before the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, all on the ground that it is a free market and flight fares do come under this category. Other than some exchanges of views and suggestions among friends and acquaintances on what may be done to take up the case of Manipur, nothing much was heard from the side of the Government of Manipur. It is not clear if the case of Manipur was brought to the notice of the Civil Aviation Ministry earlier or not but after Raj Bhavan stepped in following the stories published by The Sangai Express Air India Express is understood to have communicated that the airfare on the Imphal-Guwahati sector would be capped at Rs 6000. This is a marked improvement from the Rs 13,328 price set for the November 6 flight and while the response of the airline is acknowledged and noted, it should not be forgotten that many still feel the cap at Rs 6000 still belies logic for a 45 minute flight. In contrast, the airfare on the Agartala to Gauhati sector with a flight time of 50-55 minutes on November 6 is just Rs 1903. This is the grim reality that Manipur has been coping with since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023 and it is a little surprising to see a number of personalities suddenly speaking about the exorbitant flight fare now. In fact nothing was said about the airfare while there was a popular Government before February 13, 2025, or if anything was said, it did not have any impact on the fare structure.
It came as no surprise that after The Sangai Express covered the story on the exorbitant fare structure on the Imphal-Gauhati sector, a number of personalities came forward announcing that the they have highlighted the matter to the Centre too. This is amazing and at the same time pathetic for here is a case of efforts being made to capitalise on a situation and gain mileage. This is also the time for Raj Bhavan and the officials at the helm of affairs to acknowledge that while they have pointed to the rush for air travel, nothing has been said on why this is so. Should not take any effort to understand why there is a rush for air travel but the silence on why this is so should itself tell so many things. Meiteis still do not feel safe and wise to travel by road across National Highway-2 and this is where one may question the sincerity with which Delhi had announced that the highway is open for all. How sincere it was should be clear from the manner in which organisations such as the Kuki-Zo Council had come out with ludicrous statements like ‘The highway was never closed, but we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone.’ The double standard approach to open the highway should then be clear and there is nothing to suggest that anything substantial has been taken up to really open the highway to all sections of the people. For the moment, Air India Express has put the cap on the airfare on the said sector at Rs 6000 and also to increase the number of flights but no word has been heard from the other major airline Indigo. The exorbitant airfare is unacceptable but it is also pathetic to see so many personalities rushing in to claim credits of putting the matter before the people who matter. Manipur certainly does not need this type of political acrobatics and this is a shame.
It came as no surprise that after The Sangai Express covered the story on the exorbitant fare structure on the Imphal-Gauhati sector, a number of personalities came forward announcing that the they have highlighted the matter to the Centre too. This is amazing and at the same time pathetic for here is a case of efforts being made to capitalise on a situation and gain mileage. This is also the time for Raj Bhavan and the officials at the helm of affairs to acknowledge that while they have pointed to the rush for air travel, nothing has been said on why this is so. Should not take any effort to understand why there is a rush for air travel but the silence on why this is so should itself tell so many things. Meiteis still do not feel safe and wise to travel by road across National Highway-2 and this is where one may question the sincerity with which Delhi had announced that the highway is open for all. How sincere it was should be clear from the manner in which organisations such as the Kuki-Zo Council had come out with ludicrous statements like ‘The highway was never closed, but we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone.’ The double standard approach to open the highway should then be clear and there is nothing to suggest that anything substantial has been taken up to really open the highway to all sections of the people. For the moment, Air India Express has put the cap on the airfare on the said sector at Rs 6000 and also to increase the number of flights but no word has been heard from the other major airline Indigo. The exorbitant airfare is unacceptable but it is also pathetic to see so many personalities rushing in to claim credits of putting the matter before the people who matter. Manipur certainly does not need this type of political acrobatics and this is a shame.