Ex-Manipur CM N Biren Singh Slams Airlines for Sky-High Fares Amid Ongoing Crisis

Imphal: Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has lambasted airlines for imposing inflated ticket prices on routes connecting Imphal, labelling the practice as "unfair and intolerable."

His sharp rebuke surfaces against the backdrop of persistent highway blockades and civil unrest in the state, which have rendered air travel the sole viable option for residents entering or exiting the capital.

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In a fiery post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Singh underscored that for more than two-and-a-half years, Manipuris have been compelled to depend heavily on flights due to disrupted surface transport. Yet, he accused carriers of capitalising on this vulnerability.

He drew attention to the stark imbalance in pricing, noting that a brief 45-minute hop to Guwahati exceeds the cost of a lengthy three-hour journey to Delhi. "This amounts to outright exploitation of vulnerable travellers," Singh declared.

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Urging swift action, he called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to regulate fares for Imphal-bound flights without delay. Singh insisted that authorities intervene to curb profiteering by airlines, ensuring affordable access for those with limited alternatives.

"This is blatant daylight robbery targeting passengers in distress," he reiterated, advocating for governmental safeguards to uphold fairness and safeguard the public's welfare.