Dimapur, August 10 (MExN): Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland W Wangyuh Konyak let vent his displeasure at the poor air services in Nagaland and the inefficiency of Indian Airlines authorities in addressing the plight of air travelers.
Addressing the floor of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha MP expressed his discontentment to the Ministry of Civil Aviation that Nagaland state is receiving step-motherly treatment in regard to air services which, he contended, have been such over the past few years. Some of the issues he raised include frequent cancellation of flights from Dimapur to Guwahati “since 2005 without any rhyme or reason”, according to a press note from the MP’s Press Secretary Kedi Haralu. The MP stated that these cancellations are not even put to official records for in the records “the flight is still existing”.
“To add to the misery of the people of Nagaland is the latest cancellation of Kolkata to Dimapur flight which is scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays, which has been withdrawn even though most Nagas prefer to fly rather than take the train. The passenger list is overwhelming and many are put in the waiting list not knowing whether they can board the plane till the last minute” Wangyuh said adding that scheduled flights have been cancelled at last minute for which many are forced to take buses from Jorhat, Assam. “This has caused a great inconvenience to passengers and even the VVIPs and VIPs are not spared and often have to take the road back to Dimapur. If governors and central office bearers and high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians are not spared, what can the ordinary passenger expect?” the MP pointed out.
Further, the Parliament was informed that “many a times when urgent and important meetings are called by the Government of India at the capital, New Delhi, the mismanagement of Indian Airlines results in failing to be present on time and there are numerous occasions where important meetings are missed”. It was also pointed out that even though the Dimapur Airport was built just a few years back at a high cost, it is not being utilized to its fullest potential “thus hampering development, loss of revenue and the most significant, dampening the aspirations of the citizens of Nagaland”.
According to the MP, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India is fully aware that only Indian Airlines is operating in Nagaland from Kolkata. However, the Ministry has failed to check the irregularities in flight schedules and the irresponsible authorities to be held accountable. The MP also wanted to know what steps the Ministry was taking to curb such incidents and for how long the airport authorities will remain complacent and apathetic to the needs of the Naga citizens.
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