Centre grants permission for chopper services in two new routes from Manipur

The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has announced plans to introduce helicopter services in two routes connecting three tribal dominated districts of Manipur and Mizoram’s Aizawl and Nagaland’s Kohima.

The MHA in a letter to Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi said that the competent authority has approved the operationalization of two more additional routes -- Churachandpur in Manipur with Aizawl (Mizoram) and Kangpokpi and Senapati districts (in Manipur) with Dimapur (Nagaland) under the existing helicopter subsidy scheme.


“In principle approval is granted for additional flying hours to the state in case the existing ceiling limit of 750 flying hours per annum is exceeded due to the operation of these two new routes given the extraordinary circumstances,” the MHA letter said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his four day (May 29 to June 1) visit to Manipur, had announced a slew of measures including the helicopter service. Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) leader and spokesman Ginza Vualzong said that they had also demanded helicopter service from Lamka to Kangpokpi and Moreh, besides the two approved routes.

Sources in ITLF that the Government of India also assured to facilitate early initiation of helicopter services for the residents of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh areas to their preferred destinations. Recently the ITLF delegation had a meeting with Shah in New Delhi.