Direct flight operations between the state capitals of Manipur and Meghalaya – Imphal and Shillong began on Tuesday. 

The Imphal-Shillong direct flight operations began under the UDAN scheme of the Government of India. 

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“The operationalization of this route fulfils the objectives of the Government of India to establish strong aerial connectivity in priority areas of Northeast India,” a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation read. 

With the start of flight operations, people can move to and from these two cities within a time span of just 60 to 75 minutes. 

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Earlier, the completion of the entire journey took more than a day to reach Shillong from Imphal or vice-versa, the statement further read. 

The aerial connectivity between the capital cities of Manipur and Meghalaya has been a long-awaited demand of the people of the region, it further said. 

Till date, 361 routes and 59 airports (including 5 heliports and 2 water aerodromes) have been operationalized under the UDAN scheme.  

The scheme is envisaged to establish strong aerial connectivity in all States and UTs of the country which hitherto were not connected, laying the foundation of a new regional segment in India’s aviation market.