UKHRUL: A public grievance submitted to the President of India over steep airfares on Imphal-connected routes has led to intervention by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with official records confirming that airfares on these routes have now been capped.
The grievance was filed by Asem Roshan Singh on November 29, 2025, against the backdrop of prolonged inaccessibility of National Highways NH-2 and NH-37, Manipur’s two critical surface lifelines linking the state to the rest of the Northeast and mainland India. With both highways remaining blocked or unreliable for long periods, air travel has effectively become the only dependable means of movement for residents of the state.
In the representation, it was pointed out that people across Manipur were compelled to rely on flights for essential purposes such as medical treatment outside the state, higher education, competitive examinations, sports events, official travel and emergency family needs.
The grievance highlighted that airfares on short-haul lifeline routes—particularly those connecting Imphal with Guwahati, Kolkata and other regional hubs—remained disproportionately high even when tickets were booked well in advance.
The complaint was registered under Reference No. PRSEC/E/2025/0066829 and was forwarded on December 4, 2025, to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In response, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Regional Office Imphal, acknowledged the continued disruption of NH-2 and NH-37 and recognised the humanitarian difficulties faced by the people of Manipur.
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NHIDCL stated that air travel had become unavoidable under the prevailing circumstances but clarified that matters relating to airfare regulation, pricing and flight frequency fall under the jurisdiction of civil aviation authorities.
As no immediate relief followed, a renewed grievance seeking intervention by the competent aviation authorities was submitted on December 20, 2025, and registered under Reference No. PRSEC/E/2025/0071981.
According to the official status available on the Rashtrapati Bhavan Helpline, the grievance was disposed of on January 28, 2026, with the case details stating that airfares on Imphal-connected routes have been capped by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The decision marks the conclusion of a grievance process initiated amid prolonged transport disruptions in Manipur, during which air connectivity has remained a critical lifeline not only for the state but for the wider Northeast region dependent on regional air corridors.