[t4b-ticker]
MP seeks intervention of union minister to resolve air service shortfall and high prices of air tickets in Tripura
The CPI (M) MP of West Tripura Sankar Prasad Dutta has sought immediate intervention of the union minister for civil aviation Suresh Prabhu to resolve the ongoing crisis in Tripura over exorbitant prices of air tickets and cut-down in the number of flights to and from Agartala, specially by the private airlines, Indigo. Even though private airlines companys are given license for operation on the condition that part of their fleet will provide low-cost travel facility to air passengers of northeastern states.
But strangely, the private Spicejet air service cut down its services to and from Agartala in the first week of September, leading to increase in prices of tickets for other airlines services. The prices that soared since then have become abnormally high now with the private Indigo airlines cutting down its Agartala-Calcutta and Agartala Chennai services recently. This had made prices of air tickets completely unaffordable for passengers of Tripura. Those who have to go to outside states for the purpose of treatment have been the brunt of the problem from abnormally high prices.
Dutta in his letter said that unless the minister intervenes the private airlines services will never resume their flights to and from Tripura and , similarly, other states of the region will also be affected . ‘Your intervention in the matter on behalf of the central government is absolutely essential at this stage in the interest of the people of the state’ said Sankar Prasad Dutta.