Opposition leader urges union minister to take immediate step to reduce abrupt air fare

Leader of opposition (LoP) of Tripura, Jitendra Chaudhury seeks immediate intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister to stop the unprecedented hike of air-fare from Agartala airport and to make measures for more affordable air travel for the people of Tripura.

Opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury in a letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia said that ‘people of Tripura, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged stage, but need to avail air travel under compulsion , particularly for medical care in the hospitals of metro cities and the students pursuing their higher education in different parts of the country’.

He said that the current airfare for Kolkata to Agartala sector has reached an unprecedented high of Rs. 17,000. The abrupt hike on air-fare distressing to many of the state citizens rely on the more advanced healthcare facilities in Kolkata and other major cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi, said Chaudhury in his letter and added that the prohibitive cost of air travel is a significant obstacle for them, effectively denying access to essential health service.

“The air distance between Kolkata and Agartala is a mere 327 kilometers, making the current fare seen even more unreasonable. In light of the widespread poverty in our state, where many struggle to meet even basic needs, such costs are simply untenable,” said Chaudhury.

He urged for immediate intervention of the Union Minister and took steps to make air travel more affordable for the residents of Tripura. He also said that the reduction in airfare would not only alleviate financial stress but also potentially save lives by facilitating access to critical healthcare and the other passengers of low income groups.