ITANAGAR, Mar 12: Arunachal Pradesh Civil Aviation Minister Balo Raja, while expressing grave concern over the restriction of fare under Udan scheme for Indigo-run Itanagar-New Delhi flight only for the first 40% of seats for which late/last minute bookings have to pay in exorbitant rate, has drawn the attention of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Govt of India, pleading the authority concerned to intervene in the matter so as to make a cutback.
In a letter sent to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Raja said: “The Donyi Polo Airport can operate flight services in all weather conditions, unlike the other airports of the NE States. Moreover, despite having ILS & Night Landing facilities with posting of airport security staff for manning two shift duties on all week days, even today, the lone airline operator, Indigo is operating the most needed Itanagar - New Delhi flight service only 4 days a week under Tourism UDAN Scheme!.
Even more serious point of concern is that fare restrictions under the scheme are applicable only for the first 40% of seats for which late/last minute bookings have to pay abnormally high fare rates (which reached Rs.22,000/- in mid-October, 2024). This ironically has defeated the very purpose of air connectivity to the State, especially for the patients going out for treatment, students etc. People including the business community are reaching out to the State government expressing their concern over the abnormally higher rate of fares with the expectation of our interventions to control the same.”
Stating that this issue was brought to the kind notice of your good offices by various authorities from time to time, Raja observed: “I sincerely feel that we could control & manage such a situation only with the induction of more Airline Operators to this sector. Therefore, I would like to request for your kind and personal intervention, so that more Airline Operators can start services to this route in order to ensure competitiveness between/among them.”
While extending sincere thanks to the MoCA for its constant support and guidance for improving the air-connectivity facility in this border State, Arunachal Pradesh - the Land of Rising Sun of Bharat, the Arunachal Minister further said that with the operationalization of the Donyi Polo Airport in the State Capital has fulfilled the long pending dreams of the people of Arunachal facilitating them with faster, comfortable and convenient journey.