Mizoram CM writes to Union aviation minister over hike in airfares

Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga has written to Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri over hike in flight fares, an official said.

Mizoram has only one direct air link with Kolkata, operated by Air India after Jet Airways withdrew its flight service from the state on February 10.

Principal consultant for civil aviation Wing Commander Joe Lalhmingliana told EastMojo that the chief minister has strongly complained about the exorbitant increase in airfares for the Aizawl-Kolkata and Aizawl-Imphal routes.

Lalhmingliana said that they have appealed to resident commissioner of Mizoram house in New Delhi to submit the letter to the Union minister.

He said that the chief minister, apart from complaining about exorbitant hike, also sought reduction in the airfares, citing it was a breach of the principle of equality before the law enshrined in Article 14 of the constitution.

According to Lalhmingliana, Air India fares on Aizawl-Kolkata and Aizawl to Imphal routes were exceedingly high as compare to other sectors.

While the airfares between Aizawl and Kolkata, which is only 241 miles (air distance), was between Rs 13,795 and Rs 16,816, the fare between Guwahati and Kolkata (268 miles) was between Rs 4,900 and Rs 8,116 on Sunday.

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The airfare between Kolkata and New Delhi, which is nearly threefold longer than Aizawl to Kolkata sector, was about Rs 7,400 on Saturday.

The most exorbitant airfares, according to Lalhmingliana, are on the Aizawl to Imphal route, which is only 90 miles and a 20-minute flight.

While Air India charged Rs 7,950 for this route, only Rs 3,800- Rs 3,900 was charged between Kolkata and Imphal, which is 325 miles distance, he said.

Earlier, the airline had fixed fare for Imphal to Aizawl at Rs 2,995 and Aizawl- Kolkata (via Imphal) at Rs 3,495.