Rising airfares for Prayagraj, the site of the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh, have angered people and legislators equally and called for official action.
Flight costs for Prayagraj from Delhi have risen with a surge of pilgrims expected for the next ‘amrit snan’ on January 29, ranging between Rs. 25,000 and 50,000 for a one-way ticket; some flights from other cities are even costlier.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha requested the government to step in and stop what he referred to as the ‘arbitrary conduct’ of airlines in answer to the rise.
The prices of Air-Tickets to Prayagraj have soared to unusually high levels compared to ordinary days. On behalf of all the devotees who wish to undertake the pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh, I urge the Union Government to intervene and stop airlines from charging exorbitant fees,… pic.twitter.com/x9A9zH8CcX
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) January 28, 2025
rails for followers of Sanatan Dharma. Millions of people want to go to Prayagraj. Still, it is unfortunate that airlines have seen this as a chance. Before now the airfare to Prayagraj was ₹5,000-8,000; now it is at ₹50,000-60,000. These businesses are charging without reason. In all this, people who planned to go there are let down. Chadha remarked, “I should government intervene to stop flight businesses’ arbitrary behavior and implement price restrictions.
As a tourist might now have to spend up to Rs, the major rise in costs from different cities to Prayagraj has met with general disapproval. 60,000 for a ticket that once cost about ₹5,000.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also said that airlines should follow the example of Indian Railways, which has improved its services while keeping prices reasonable, by being friendly and unbiased.
“Whereas Indian Railways has broadened its offerings for passengers and kept inexpensive rates, some airlines are taking advantage of the surge of passengers. VHP spokesman Vinod Bansal said, “This is not a time to take advantage of devotees but rather to show compassion and dedication.” He said this is completely unfair and immoral.
Further, Bansal said that if airlines continue to overcharge customers going to the Kumbh, the Civil Aviation Ministry and other agencies should act rapidly.
प्रयागराज की पावन धरा पर हो रहे महाकुंभ में आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं की सेवा, सुरक्षा और सुविधाओं का राज्य सरकार तो पूरा ध्यान रख ही रही है, अनेक धार्मिक, सामाजिक व सेवाभावी संगठन व लोग भी निस्वार्थ भाव से सेवा में जुटे हैं।
किंतु वहीं, कुछ विमानन कंपनियां यात्रियों के बढ़ती संख्या…— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) January 27, 2025
