AGARTALA, December 18 (TIWN): After a long period the air passengers of Tripura got a relief from the ongoing crisis of flights cancellation. Three Spicejet flights arrived in the Agartala Airport last night and flown to Kolkata along with the passengers. Flight services still far from normal even today.

Flight services in the Agartala sector became irregular since the last week of November. Fight fares in the Kolkata-Agartala sector have soared to Rs 15,000. And it is to be mentioned here that, unfortunately, all private airlines have sold out tickets in these sectors to some travel agencies who have booked all tickets in advance anticipating passenger pressure in December. Now, even the airlines don't have any ticket to sell directly to customers. It is also mentionable here that some travel agencies purchased tickets in bulk in fake names. Now, they are selling those to customers at a higher price.
Everyday, flights are either delayed or cancelled without any intimation and passengers are not even getting compensated. They are now being forced to book tickets at a higher price.
Air connectivity of Tripura with the other corners of country is going through very hard days. If the Government had not taken proper steps, Tripura will be cut out and remains as a remotest place in the global world. Though, the State Government had recently reduced the ATF VAT upto 18% from 22%. But with comparison with other States, the range is still larger. According to the recent data; Telangana has plans to bring down the VAT on ATF to about 4 per cent. Currently, Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal levy 4-5 per cent sales tax on ATF followed by Goa, which last year reduced the tax slab from 22-12.5 per cent.

Due to the negligence of the Government, various airline authorities had dropped the service from Tripura. Recently Jet Airways withdrew flight from Agartala Airport.  A highly placed official of the Agartala Airport today said that a total of eleven flights including inbound and outgoing flights in Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi and other destinations of the country were operating from the Agartala Airport. An average of 3,600 passengers are estimated to travel in and out of Agartala through airways. Operating flights in Northeastern region is a mandate for the private airliners and since they are operating in the region, the companies have been getting benefits from the government and if any company winds up its business from a remote state like Tripura, certainly it is the duty of the Ministry to stop it. Since, the Agartala Airport is currently estimated to generate the second largest air traffic in the northeastern region after Guwahati and it is a legitimate demand to start more flights and regulate airfare. While the low cost airlines is deciding to withdraw their services from Tripura soon following a drop in the frequency of flights.