Eminent lawyer Dharmananda Deb expresses concern over 'abnormally' high airfares on Silchar-Guwahati route

Eminent lawyer Dharmananda Deb has raised serious concerns regarding the unusually high airfare on the Silchar-Guwahati route. He has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

In the letter, Deb pointed out that the airfare for the Silchar-Guwahati route, which involves a flight time of just 50 minutes, currently fluctuates between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 — making it unaffordable for common travelers.

He further highlighted that despite the Agartala-Guwahati route being longer in distance (approximately 248 km) and having a flight time of 55 minutes, the airfare is only ₹1,800. In contrast, the fare for the Silchar-Guwahati journey, which covers just 192 km, is almost ten times higher, which he described as entirely unjust and discriminatory.

In his letter, Deb emphasized that the people of Barak Valley’s three districts — Cachar, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi — have long suffered due to poor road and rail connectivity. Natural calamities often isolate the region from the mainland, making air travel the only dependable option. Especially in cases of medical emergencies, higher education, job interviews, or official work, flights provide the fastest means of travel.

In light of these challenges, he requested the Prime Minister to waive all charges levied on passengers at the Silchar Airport, stating that this move would make air travel more affordable and accessible for the people of the Barak region.