ITANAGAR, Mar 12: Arunachal Pradesh Civil Aviation Minister Balo Raja has written to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, requesting urgent intervention to increase flight services and regulate high airfare prices at Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar. He emphasized the need for more airline operators on the route, stating that limited flight availability and excessive last-minute fares are hindering the purpose of improved air connectivity in the state.
In his letter, Raja expressed gratitude for the Union Ministry’s continuous support in expanding Arunachal Pradesh’s air connectivity. He acknowledged that the operationalization of Donyi Polo Airport has been a historic achievement, fulfilling the long-standing dream of the people by providing them with a faster and more comfortable travel option. Unlike other airports, Donyi Polo Airport is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Night Landing facilities, allowing operations in all weather conditions. Despite these advancements, however, flight connectivity remains inadequate, with only one airline, Indigo, operating flights between Itanagar and New Delhi four days a week under the UDAN tourism scheme.
Raja raised serious concerns over the unregulated increase in airfares, particularly for last-minute bookings. He pointed out that under the UDAN scheme, only 40% of the seats have fare restrictions, while remaining seats often see exorbitant price hikes, with fares soaring to 22,000 in mid-October 2024. This, he stated, defeats the purpose of air connectivity, particularly affecting patients seeking medical treatment, students, and business travelers. The minister highlighted that the state government has received numerous complaints from the public and the business community regarding these high fares and the lack of adequate flight options.
To address these challenges, Raja urged the Union Ministry to facilitate the induction of more airline operators on the Itanagar sector to create competition and bring down fares. He also requested an increase in the number of flights between Itanagar and major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Additionally, he stressed the need for daily flights from Itanagar to New Delhi’s IGI Airport and better connectivity options from New Delhi and Kolkata airports to other key destinations. Furthermore, he proposed replacing the Dornier-228 aircraft with an ATR 72 under the RCS-UDAN scheme for the Guwahati-Itanagar route to accommodate more passengers and enhance travel efficiency.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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