The service of Indian (formerly “Indian Airlines” ?– an ingenious rechristening of name indeed!) in alliance with Alliance Air in the Kolkota-Dimapur route is the most pathetic that one can ever come across in air travels. While bad services and experiences with Indian airlines and Alliance Air when shuttling between Dimapur and Kolkota are routine, one tell tale flight in this route simply cannot be let off without relating it for all to read and act!
December 13, 2006 – It all began with flight IC7701 from Kolkota to Dimapur getting delayed as usual by several hours, originally slated to depart at 10:00 in the morning. While a couple of hours’ delay is normal owing to irreasonable excuses that Indian airlines always come up with, the delay information kept displaying for only one hour at a time much to the anxiety and restlessness of the passengers. Later after 2:00 P.M. the information totally stopped from displaying on the departure board. Upon enquiry with some of the airline officials, one of the arrogant duty managers in the Kolkota Airport informed bluntly that the flight has been cancelled for no apparent reason at all. It was totally outrageous that the airlines announced the cancellation of the flight only about 3:00 P.M., having kept waiting for about 7 hours inside the terminal (most passengers checked-in about 8:00 A.M. to evade long Qs).
With one of the usual “bandhs” looming the next day (December 14) and all outgoing and incoming flights to Kolkota pre-cancelled, it was absolutely imperative for the Dimapur bound passengers to leave Kolkota on the 13th itself. Even if one were to hold back in Kolkota, the pathetic Indian airlines had no provisions to arrange for the passengers to stay for the next couple of nights, which was again communicated in the most brusque manner to the passengers by the arrogant duty manager.
With no option left, the restless passengers of this flight (including an MP from Nagaland who could do very little), pressured for the flight to leave for Dimapur on the same day. The only bargain that resulted through this pressure was for IC7701 to leave Kolkota for Guwahati. With only an hour or so left before dusk, and knowing that Dimapur Airport has no night landing facilities, going to Guwahati was the only choice left for the passengers. At about 4:00 P.M. the flight was finally on the runway.
Upon arriving in Guwahati Airport about 6:00 P.M., it was found out that quite a number of luggage did not arrive in this flight. When enquiries were made, the duty manager in Guwahati informed the passengers that the baggage were deliberately not uploaded on the flight for reasons best known to those in Kolkota, adding more deliberate harrassment to the passengers. Later, the passengers were told that the baggage will arrive in Dimapur only in a couple of days’ time.
Having delayed the flight by several hours, dumped the passengers in Guwahati, and to top it all, no baggage for most of the passengers, this flight was one utterly revolting flight in the perpetual step-motherly treatment to passengers of Nagaland by Indian airlines and Alliance Air!
How can an airlines like Indian be so irresponsible in its service to passengers, especially in a route which is the most expensive in the world? It is outrageous that a regular return fare between Kolkota and Dimapur is over Rs. 14,000 for about an hour to two hours’ flight time, whereas an international return fare between Kolkota and Bangkok on a two and half hours flight is only about Rs. 6600 in a much better airlines than Indian! The basic fares on international flights in Europe and Asia between major cities of the world in budget airlines today are as low as 50 paise literally, while some popular airlines like Air Asia is currently giving away one million free tickets to any destination it flies! On any given day, a return airfare for a two-hour flight between Bangkok and Singapore is only about Rs. 4500, whereas it is more than three times of that between Kolkota and Dimapur, amounting to more than Rs. 14,000! Passengers in other North-East Indian cities including Imphal and Aizawl also enjoy fares are as low as Rs. 1000 for one way for about the same flight time between Kolkota and Dimapur, and more choices of airlines and frequency of flights, as well.
Why is the state run Indian airlines playing monopoly in the Kolkota-Dimapur route when it has open sky policies for all other cities in India? Why can’t Nagaland have budget airlines between Dimapur and Kolkota and between Dimapur and other cities in India, while all other North-Eastern cities do? Why are flight services (including the services of grumpy and ageing flight attendants), frequency of flights, and fares by Indian airlines and Alliance Air in the Kolkota-Dimapur route so horrible, so erratic, and so exorbitantly high? Why can’t the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Toursim do something about the flights and fares between the Kolkota-Dimapur route in accord with their Look East Policy and also in consonance with flights in other cities in North-East India? Why can’t the Government of Nagaland do something about it, including the two MPs who are supposed to represent the people of Nagaland in Delhi?
The simple but hard fact remains right at home: The apathy of the Chief Minister of Nagaland and his Council of Ministers and all the MLAs including the two MPs is obvious. They are just obnoxiously indifferent to the plight of the common people and the general public in almost everything, including the horrible flight services between Dimapur and other cities in India. After all, they can generously utilize public funds for all their needs and can afford to travel to any part of the world no matter how much it costs, and simply zip their mouths shut and bear the pathetic treatments of Indian airlines! And the consequence is that, Indian airlines in connivance with Alliance Air will continue to treat the people of Nagaland in a step-motherly manner as long as those in “seats of power” remain indifferent and apathetic to the conditions and concerns of the common people in Nagaland!
It is only reasonable that Indian airlines refund the difference of flight fare between Guwahati and Dimapur for all the passengers who travelled on this horrible flight IC7701 on December 13, 2006, and also pay double the full fare for causing utmost physical inconvenience and mental agony to the passengers. Apology unnecessary!
Bendang Toshi
Dimapur
