MP Sanajaoba urges for concessional airfare
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 01 2024: Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has written to union minister of civil aviation and tourism K Rammohan Naidu, urging to consider offering of concessional airfares to travellers from Manipur taking into account unstable law and order situation in the state.

In his letter, Sanajaoba highlighted travel restrictions faced by the Meetei community due to the ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023 .

According to Sanajaoba, who is also the titular king of Manipur, major highways connecting Manipur with other parts of the country, such as NH-37 and NH-29, pass through Kuki-dominated hilly areas, making road travel unsafe for the Meetei community, consequently forcing travellers, particularly students and patients seeking medical treatment, to rely on air travel as the only safe option.

The parliamentarian pointed out that such reliance on air travel has turned into huge economic burden on the ordinary citizens, as airlines have raised fares for outbound flights from Imphal.

"Because of involvement on risk of lives, all travellers, mostly students, patients for medical treatments, have to travel at least up to Guwahati or Kolkata by air," the MP said.

He also claimed that 'sensing this predicament all airlines are also increasing the airfare outbound for Imphal', which in turn has become an additional burden for the people.

"I am compelled to draw your kind consideration for a concessional airfare for travellers from Manipur to other parts of India," he said in the letter.

The MP appealed to the government to review the fare policy of airlines operating in the Imphal sector, so that airfares can be made more affordable, especially for students, patients, and the public.

He also emphasised that the ongoing situation has made air travel a necessity, not a luxury, for the people of Manipur.

The appeal has come at a time when the state continues to grapple with security challenges, and lack of safe road travel has compounded the difficulties for many.

Over 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence in Manipur between the Meeteis and the Kukis since May last year.

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