Manipur to revive helicopter services from Oct 1 suspension via Pawan Hans
Synopsis
Manipur's Cabinet has approved Pawan Hans to restore helicopter services suspended since 1 October, deploying a twin-engine aircraft for up to six months with 75% of costs backed by the MHA's Northeast scheme. The same session declared Loktak Day an annual state festival — a dual move that ties aerial connectivity to the state's identity and survival needs.
Key Takeaways
Manipur Cabinet , chaired by CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh , approved revival of helicopter services on 22 October 2025 .
Pawan Hans Limited will operate one twin-engine helicopter for six months or until a regular operator is selected via tender.
Minimum 40 flying hours per month mandated; services will reconnect hill areas with Imphal and support medical evacuations.
MHA to bear 75% of operational costs under the North East Helicopter Scheme ; state will fund the rest if central support is delayed.
Loktak Day declared an annual state festival, with this year's event starting 26 October at Thanga and Komlakhong .
The Manipur government is set to restore helicopter services in the state, which have remained suspended since 1 October 2025, a senior official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed on Thursday, 22 October. The state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, met in Imphal and approved the reintroduction of the services, with public sector undertaking Pawan Hans Limited selected as the operator to restore connectivity to remote and hill areas.
Key Cabinet Decision
The Cabinet cleared the engagement of Pawan Hans Limited on a transitional basis — deploying one twin-engine helicopter for a period of six months, or until a regular operator is identified through a competitive tender process. The helicopter will be required to log a minimum of 40 flying hours per month, ensuring consistent service across difficult terrain. The services will reconnect remote and hill districts with Imphal, and will also cater to medical emergencies, which have faced logistical strain since the suspension began.
Funding and Central Support
Costs for the revived services are to be shared with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under its North East Helicopter Scheme. Under the MHA's Helicopter Subsidy Scheme, the Ministry bears 75 per cent of operational costs to keep air travel affordable for residents navigating the rugged terrain of the Northeast. Should central support prove unavailable, the Manipur state government has committed to bearing the expenditure independently to ensure service continuity, according to the CMO official.
Why Helicopter Connectivity Matters for Manipur
Helicopter services in Manipur function as a critical lifeline rather than a luxury. Much of the state's hill districts lack road connectivity adequate for medical evacuations or swift inter-district travel. This comes amid ongoing infrastructure challenges across Northeast India, where aerial connectivity often substitutes for absent road and rail networks. Notably, the suspension since 1 October has been a period of particular stress for residents in remote areas, underlining the urgency behind the Cabinet's decision.
Loktak Day to Become Annual State Festival
In the same Cabinet session, the government decided that Loktak Day will henceforth be celebrated every year as an official state festival, observed on the full-moon day of the month of Mera (Thanil of Mera Tha). The community tradition, which was first observed in 1990 at Thanga, honours Loktak Lake — the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, located 48 km from Imphal. This year's celebration, beginning 26 October, will be held at two venues: Loktak Lairembi Ground, Thanga, and Komlakhong, organised by the Loktak Development Authority in association with local clubs. Cultural events, traditional sports, and conservation activities are planned, open to the public, students, and youth. The lake is also home to fishermen who live on floating islands called 'Phumdis' in floating huts known as 'Phumsangs' — a tradition unique to Manipur.
What to Watch Next
The tendering process for a permanent helicopter operator will be a key milestone to follow, as the Pawan Hans arrangement is explicitly temporary. Whether the MHA's central funding under the North East scheme will be confirmed in time to offset state expenditure is another variable the government will be monitoring closely in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Dependent partly on MHA funding that is not guaranteed, leaves the long-term solution unresolved. The broader pattern — repeated service suspensions followed by temporary fixes — points to a structural gap in Northeast aviation policy, where subsidy-dependent routes are perpetually vulnerable to operator exits. The Loktak Day declaration, while culturally significant, risks being a footnote unless it is backed by tangible conservation funding for the lake, which faces serious ecological pressure from encroachment and phumdis degradation.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were helicopter services suspended in Manipur since October 1?
The source material does not specify the precise reason for the suspension, but officials confirmed services have been halted since 1 October 2025. The Cabinet's urgency in restoring them suggests the suspension was impacting remote area residents and medical emergencies.
Who will operate helicopter services in Manipur now?
Public sector undertaking Pawan Hans Limited will operate the services on a temporary basis, deploying one twin-engine helicopter for six months or until a regular operator is selected through a tender process.
How much will the Manipur helicopter service cost and who pays?
Under the MHA's Helicopter Subsidy Scheme, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs bears 75% of operational costs. If central funding is unavailable, the Manipur state government has committed to covering the expenditure to ensure service continuity.
What is Loktak Day and when is it celebrated?
Loktak Day is a community tradition that honours Loktak Lake — the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. The Manipur Cabinet has now declared it an annual state festival, observed on the full-moon day of the month of Mera (Thanil of Mera Tha). This year's event begins on 26 October at Thanga and Komlakhong.
What areas will the restored helicopter service connect in Manipur?
The service will reconnect remote and hill areas of Manipur with Imphal, the state capital. It will also facilitate medical evacuations, which are critical in regions where road infrastructure is limited.
