Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar who on April 9 missed an important meeting with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in Kolkata due to delay in Indian Airlines flight, expressed deep anguish for the step-motherly attitude of Civil Aviation Ministry towards the State . A visibly annoyed Chief Minister alleged that despite repeated pleas to the ministry nothing had been done towards the improvement of the air services in the State . The morning Indian Airlines flight was delayed due to technical snag at Kolkata and was rescheduled for 4:45 p.m. The meeting was slated to be held at Hotel Taj Bengal at 10 a.m.

The Chief Minister said that despite repeated pleas to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to increase the number of flights from the existing 12 per week to 15 per week nothing had yet been done . “Even if the number of flights are insufficient at least they should maintain the punctuality,” he opined.

He said, he had urged the Civil Aviation Ministry for introduction of daily flights in the Kolkata-Kailsahahar — Silchar — Guwahati route keeping the remoteness of the State in view. “State Government has also pressed the Home and Defence Ministry for 75 per cent concession in air fare and introduction of chopper services, but is waiting for cabinet clearance,” Mr. Sarkar said. Even if Indian Airlines are having a shortage of fleet, it should invite some private operators along with the Indian Airlines, he asserted. The Chief Minister had already appealed to Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain for improvement of the air services in the State. 

It may be mentioned here that this was not the first time Chief minister Manik Sarkar had to cancel his crucial meeting outside the State. During the last NEC meet at Shillong, Chief Minister had to cancel his booking following delay in flight. Tripura, being a landlocked State, is totally dependent on air services to be in touch with the mainland.
  
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