Manipur Helicopter Service turns Flop show, Flight cancellation peeves Several passengers in Jiribam
Source: IT News
Imphal, September 26 2018:
The first Helicopter Service recently launched by Manipur Chief minister N Biren Singh with high spirit of boosting air connectivity between Imphal-Jiribam has now turned a flop show and people no longer trust with the service.
On Tuesday, several passengers who turned up at Jiribam Harinagar Helipad to take theit Helicopter flight were left disappointed when the men at Helipad ticket booking counter informed them that the flight service had been cancelled due to bad weather.
Several Imphal bound passengers booked their tickets at Jiribam Harinagar Helipad to take their first flight at 9.50 am and second flight at 2.55 pm.
Despite long wait for hours, the Helicopter did not come.
When enquired, officials of the Helipad counter informed the passengers that flights has been cancelled for the day citing heavy downpour and bad weather condition in Imphal which infuriated the passengers.
Later on, the angry passengers had the counter officials refunded their money.
Ironically, despite the Counter officials citing bad weather condition and heavy raining in Imphal as reason for cancellation of flight service, relatives in Imphal telephonically informed that weather condition condition in Imphal was good with no rain on the day, said a passenger to Imphal Times.
The passenger alleged that cancellation of flight service due to bad weather was just a lame excuse, but due to unavailability of passengers in Imphal.
Cancellation of flight service due to unavailability of passengers in Imphal has badly hurt the sentiments of passengers in Jiribam.
Such incidents should not be repeated in future, otherwise the newly launched Manipur Helicopter service will lose public trust.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on September 19 officially launched the Manipur Heli Service between Imphal and Jiribam at the Harinagar helipad in Jiribam district to boost air connectivity.
It is said that the helicopter service will be operating on a daily basis except on Sundays and public holidays and fare for a one-way travel is Rs 3,000 per person.
Noida-based state-run Pawan Hans is the service provider; it will fly an eight-seater chopper.According to a report recieved by the press, since launching of the flight service, People has not seen any Helicopter flight in Jiribam so far except the flight on September 20 last.
The Jiribam Harinagar Helipad is located around 7 km away from Proper Jiribam town.
The approach road to Helipad is in a deplorable condition and passengers are facing problems in terms of transport.
The Union government is giving wings to its Act East policy to improve air connectivity in the northeastern region and also eying to build ties with Southeast Asian countries.The Union government has identified 16 new destinations in the northeastern region under its Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN) scheme.
With the helicopter service in place a major connectivity issue will be taken care of.
Manipur being partly hilly, communication and transportation were big hurdles, especially during emergencies.The funding for the helicopter service will be jointly borne by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state government at the ratio of 75:25 .
It is said that passenger helicopter service will be introduced on the Imphal-Moreh sector on a daily basis and Tamenglong-Jiribam-Tamenglong-Imphal sectors thrice a week in the first phase of the service," Chief Minister said during launching ceremony of Helicopter service.
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