Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has raised alarm over the skyrocketing airfare on the Agartala-Kolkata route and the reduction of flight services, calling for immediate action to safeguard public interests.
In a letter sent to Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), Chowdhury expressed concern about current ticket prices, which have surged to between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 for the short 327 km route. The issue was also raised in recent state assembly discussions, highlighting the adverse impact on travelers.
Chowdhury cited the upcoming winter schedule for 2024, which will see two ATR flights on this route replaced by Airbus aircraft starting October 27 and December 16. Despite the larger capacity of the Airbus, the cancellation of a night flight will result in 360 fewer seats, significantly reducing travel options.
To mitigate these challenges, Chowdhury urged IndiGo to introduce a cap on airfare for the Agartala-Kolkata route and to reconsider the reduction of flights. He emphasized the need to maintain the three existing flight services to ensure adequate access for passengers.
In a separate communication with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Chowdhury addressed the ongoing delays in designating Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala as an Immigration Check Post (ICP). He acknowledged the challenges related to infrastructure and personnel, which have hindered progress, and requested clear guidelines from the Bureau of Immigration on police deployment and infrastructure requirements.
Chowdhury emphasized the importance of elevating MBB Airport to ICP status, which would be a crucial step toward its recognition as an international airport. He called for swift collaboration between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State Home Department, and airport officials to expedite the process.
