Correspondent
IMPHAL, October 9
Considering the existing potential and India’s look east policy, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and other concerned parties have been urged to allow operation of a chartered passenger ferry flight between Imphal and Mandalay (Myanmar) prior to 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival beginning November 21 next.
Imphal International airport has finally made a debut on the International aviation map after Myanmar’s private airline Golden Myanmar made a maiden landing in November last year with 100-strong Myanmarese delegation led by Chief Ministers U Thar Aye and U Ye Myint of Mandalay and Saigang divisions to attend the Sangai Festival. The flight time to Mandalay from Imphal takes barely one hour.With the initiative of KB Enterprises, a private tour operator based in Imphal has been planning to bring Myanmar delegation as trade promotional activities between the two countries for the forthcoming 10 day Manipur Sangai Festival beginning from November 21 next.
Proprietor P Kunjabihari of KB Enterprises, which is Manipur’s first Union tourism ministry approved in bound tour operator, speaking to media here said, “We’ve submitted all the relevant documents to the concerned authorities for the operation of a 72 seated chartered flight between Imphal-Mandalay. Myanmar authority has agreed to the proposal, but we’re yet to get the green signal from Indian authority.”
Besides Embassy of India in Yangoon, Manipur government has also been supporting the initiative to introduce a chartered flight in partnership with Golden Myanmar airlines until commencement of a scheduled international commercial flight service. On August 11 this year, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi had written to Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Union Minister for civil aviation to grant necessary permission for the proposal at the earliest.
“The state government would like to support and encourage the proposal from the local enterprise to bring International flights from Myanmar to Imphal to popularize Imphal as an International destination for tourists,” Ibobi said.
Similarly the state chief secretary PC Lawmkunga in a letter to V Somasundaran, Secretary Civil Aviation ministry requested for the early clearance of the proposal so that the service could commence early. However so far there is no response from the concerned civil aviation authority in New Delhi.
