Busy tulihal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21 2011:
Unwilling to take the risk in this land-locked and agitation-prone State coupled with many apparently preferring a comfortable journey the number of passengers opting for the aerial route has reportedly recorded a record high in the last few months.
As per estimate of Joint General Manager of Tulihal Airport Ajay Shiva there is an average of over 1000 passengers flying in and out of the state on a daily basis.
Noting that agitation of various modes and forms have been plaguing Manipur for the last many years and pointing to the ongoing economic blockade as a factor, the Assistant General Manager speaking to The Sangai Express confided that flight service operators are constrained to increase number of flights to cope with the growing number of passengers.
Compared to about 25,400 passengers arriving to Manipur in a month during normal times the number rises to over 31,000 whenever there is bandh or blockade in the State, said Ajay adding that passenger figure taking the flight out of manipur in a month under similar circumstances hovers around the 35,500 mark.
Informing that Manipur is aerially connected with other parts of the country through 24 flight operations a day, he listed services by Air India, Kingfisher, Indigo, Jetlite, NE Shuttle and airforce planes as the service providers catering to the growing number of passengers both to and from Manipur.
Disclosing that a new terminal of international standard would be added to the Tulihal Airport having aero-bridge facility, the Airport official said the new terminal will provide separate space for cargo planes.
The AGM further informed that for convenience of the air passengers Tulihal Airport at present have various facilities such as rooms for child care, baby feeding rooms in addition to rest room, wheeler and toilet facilities for physically challenged persons.
Along with ambulance facility a medical inspection room has been opened at the airport for medical attention of passengers, he added.