Debut on international aviation map ready, passport office still in paper stage
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2013: Chief Minister O Ibobi today convened a high-level meeting and discussed the scheduled landing of the first international flight from Mandalay, Myanmar at Tulihal Airport on November 21, the opening day of Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival 2013 .

Notably, the Chief Minister had already raised a proposal of opening a passport office in Manipur with the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister.

The State Government is ready to send a submission to the Regional Passport Office, Guwahati that the land and office to set up a mini passport office is ready at Imphal and accordingly take up steps to open the office.

Two officers have already been listed to man the proposed mini-passport office here.

Aircraft of the flight service from Myanmar which will be the first international flight to land at Tulihal

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Industries Minister K Govindas, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga, Additional Chief Secretary RR Rashmi, DGP MK Das, Principal Secretary (Home) Suresh Babu, Principal Secretary (Industries) O Nabakishore, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Rajesh Kumar, Principal Secretary (Transport) M Lakshmikumar were present at the meeting, informed an official source.

Shija Hospital Managing Director Dr Palin, Classic Hotel Managing Director Dr Dhaballi, representatives of KB Enterprises, officials of Customs, Airport Authority of India and Air India too attended the meeting.

The meeting deliberated at length about necessary statutory notifications for Customs and Immigration at Tulihal Airport ahead of launching international flight operation from and to the airport.

Meanwhile, Home Department has selected 26 police personnel to look after immigration and visa on arrival process at Moreh and Imphal airport.

The selected police personnel would be sent for informed the source.

The first international flight would bring Chief Ministers of Myanmar's Saigang and Mandalay divisions as well as officials and businessmen from the neighbouring country.

On its return leg, the Golden Myanmar flight would take officials and tourists from Manipur to Myanmar as planned by the State Government.

Another flight would land at Imphal on November 24 and it would take back the Myanmar Chief Ministers, officials and businessmen to their home country.

The meeting presided by the Chief Minister also discussed about opening a passport office and a visa camp office in Manipur at the earliest possible time.

Different types of works and duties lined up in the process of making Manipur a sub-regional hub of civil aviation were divided among different departments during the meeting.

While Police Department would handle the work of immigration, the meeting mooted about entrusting all other works related to civil aviation to Transport Department.

For the return flight of November 21 from Imphal to Mandalay, around 70 people have approached Government and private agents to book their tickets for the same flight even though ticket booking has not been opened officially.

The aircraft which would operate on Imphal-Mandalay route is of A-32 type having sitting capacity of 180 passengers.