Tripura govt seeks cap on airfares in Kolkata & Guwahati routes

Agartala: Tripura govt has expressed dissatisfaction with aviation companies for not passing on the benefits of the substantial tax cut on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to travellers over the past three years.
In a letter to Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Tripura transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury requested the implementation of a mechanism to cap airfare on the Agartala-Kolkata and Agartala-Guwahati routes, considering the limited communication options and lack of alternatives for the state.
As in previous years, aviation companies have significantly increased airfares on these routes ahead of Durga Puja. Chowdhury proposed an upper limit on airfare for these routes and, in a separate letter, requested the operation of 17-19-seater aircraft at Kailashahar airport.
Chowdhury highlighted that airfares between Agartala and Kolkata currently range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 for a mere 327 km of aerial distance. With the upcoming festive season, there are concerns that these prices may go up even further.