Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday criticised airlines for imposing “daylight robbery” through steep airfares on flights to and from Imphal, at a time when the state has remained cut off by road for over two years due to prolonged unrest and recurring highway blockades.
In a post on X, Singh said residents have been forced to depend almost entirely on air travel to reach Imphal, yet carriers continue to charge what he termed exploitative fares. He pointed out that a 45-minute Imphal-Guwahati flight now costs more than a three-hour journey to Delhi, calling the fare structure “unfair and unacceptable”.Centre
“This is nothing short of daylight robbery against passengers who have no other travel option,” he wrote.
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Singh urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to intervene immediately and rationalise airfares in the interest of the public. He said the government must ensure that airlines “stop exploiting the situation” created by the state’s restricted road access.
Manipur has faced severe disruptions to road connectivity since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, with key national highways frequently blocked, pushing passengers to rely solely on flights.
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