New Delhi, 9 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that government rules and regulations must aim to strengthen systems, not inconvenience citizens, amid the aviation crisis triggered by widespread flight disruptions at IndiGo Airlines.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju shared details of the Prime Minister’s remarks during a meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lawmakers on Tuesday morning. “It is our responsibility to ensure that no citizen faces hardship simply because of bureaucratic processes,” the Prime Minister said. “

Rules are meant to improve the system—not to harass the public.”The NDA’s internal meeting took place ahead of a high-stakes Lok Sabha debate on electoral reforms, coinciding with growing public outrage over IndiGo’s operational meltdown that left thousands of passengers stranded across the country.

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu told Parliament that the government would act firmly, calling IndiGo’s handling of the crisis “a failure of management.” “We will set an example for every airline. Passenger welfare comes first—non-compliance will invite strict action,” he said.

India’s largest carrier, which commands over 60 percent of the domestic aviation market, has been battling severe disruption following the enforcement of new pilot fatigue management norms by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The changes, aimed at improving flight crew safety and rest periods, left the airline unable to adequately staff its busy schedule, forcing the cancellation of nearly 4,500 flights over the past week.The airline has refunded more than ₹830 crore to affected passengers but also witnessed a staggering ₹37,000 crore erosion in market valuation.

Social media platforms have been flooded with photos and videos of stranded travelers—many journeying for medical or personal emergencies—reflecting the growing frustration among consumers.

IndiGo has since announced full refunds and penalty waivers for cancelled or rescheduled flights, but customers continue to report delays in processing due to the high volume of transactions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar