Civil aviation to introduce direct flight service to New Delhi

From A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 21

Union civil aviation ministry is introducing direct flight service between New Delhi and Imphal from January 1 next year said Union civil aviation minister Jayant Sinha, speaking at the North East Development Summit, City Convention Center Konung Mamang here today. 

The Union minister made the announcement today at the inauguration of the summit. He said the flight will be operated by Air India twice a week and it would gradually be converted into a daily service. 

The minister said Northeast has performed spectacularly in the second round of bidding for Udan, a programme to increase regional air connectivity. As a result, 92 new routes will be introduced in the region, he said. The ministry will build 9 new airports and 7 new heliports in the Northeast, he informed.

Governor of the state, Najma Heptulla thanked the Union minister for approving her request and further demanded for direct flights services to other major cities like Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai as well.

The event was also attended by Union minister of commerce and industry Suresh Prabhu, union tourism minister Alphonso Kannanthanam, chief ministers of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and first lady of India Savita Kovind.

Connectivity was in special focus at the event. Nagaland’s chief minister TR Zeliang asked the Union government to allow international flights from at least one of the Northeastern airport such as Guwahati.

“To reach Myanmar, we currently have to go via Calcutta,” Zeliang quipped, adding that the three C’s of commerce, connectivity and culture will transform the northeast.

Civil aviation and tourism minister of Bangladesh Rashed Khan Menon, who also spoke during the inaugural event, said his country is willing to partner with India for development projects to connect Northeast region with the ASEAN countries.