BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th September 2024: The Government of Tripura has expressed serious concerns over the sharp increase in airfares on the Agartala-Kolkata route, which has greatly affected travelers. Sushanta Chowdhury, the state’s Minister for Tourism and Transport, has formally addressed this issue in a letter to the Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, calling for urgent action.
In his letter, Chowdhury pointed out that the cost of flights for the 327-kilometer journey between Agartala and Kolkata has skyrocketed to between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000. With the festive season approaching, there is a growing fear that these prices could climb even higher, exacerbating the difficulties faced by the people of Tripura. This matter was also brought up in the recent session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, where it received unanimous disapproval from both the ruling and opposition parties.
To encourage air travel within the region, the Government of Tripura has already slashed VAT on aviation turbine fuel from 16% to 1%. However, Chowdhury noted that airlines are exploiting this reduction to increase services on other routes, such as those linking Kolkata with major cities like Chennai and Bangalore, rather than benefiting travelers on the Agartala-Kolkata and Agartala-Guwahati routes. Consequently, passengers from the North Eastern states continue to endure high fares without any notable improvement in service.
Chowdhury’s letter urges the Ministry of Civil Aviation to impose a cap on the maximum airfare for the Agartala-Kolkata and Agartala-Guwahati routes. This measure is deemed essential to alleviate the financial burden on passengers and ensure fair pricing across domestic flight sectors.
The call for fare regulation has resonated in both regional and national media, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the current airfare structure. The Tripura government is hopeful that prompt action by the Civil Aviation Ministry will bring relief to passengers and boost regional connectivity.
