Prayagraj airdrome has besides expanded its network, connecting to 14 destinations, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad. (Express photograph by Vishal Srivastava)
Mumbaikars who privation to be the Mahakumbh 2025 successful Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, are complaining of a steep surge successful airfares, with summons prices connected immoderate routes going up by 500 per cent to 600 per cent. One-way formation summons from Mumbai to Prayagraj, usually priced astir Rs 5,000, present scope betwixt Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000, with the fares exceeding Rs 32,000 connected highest dates, chiefly during the weekends. The lawsuit concludes connected February 26.
Dr Nikhilesh Ladha from Powai, Mumbai, said, “I was shocked to spot summons prices spell up to Rs 30,000 for a one-way flight. It is simply a important expense, but attending the Mahakumbh is simply a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual experience, truthful I decided to spell up and publication my tickets anyway, arsenic bid travel is inconvenient.”
However, the terms hike has compelled radical to look for flights to alternate airports. Milind Bhandarkar from Mumbai, who booked a formation summons for Lucknow alternatively of Prayagraj, said, “Tickets to Prayagraj person go highly costly and adjacent to person airports specified arsenic Lucknow and Kanpur person besides go expensive. The pricing is dynamic and increases drastically during the last outgo signifier to exploit devotees visiting the Mahakumbh.”
To accommodate the surge successful travellers, airlines specified arsenic IndiGo, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet person launched regular nonstop flights to Prayagraj. Prayagraj airdrome has besides expanded its network, connecting to 14 destinations, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad.
Those incapable to spend the precocious prices are turning to bid travel, but securing confirmed tickets has go a situation owed to overwhelming demand. “Flight summons rates to Prayagraj person surged by 162% year-on-year, with adjacent Varanasi and Lucknow airports witnessing maturation of 127% and 42%, respectively,” said Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, Ixigo. They besides reported a 2.6-time summation successful bookings for some flights and trains to the region.
Held erstwhile successful 12 years, the Mahakumbh is simply a monolithic spiritual gathering that attracts millions of devotees from crossed India and beyond. The event’s value has placed immense unit connected Prayagraj’s proscription infrastructure, pushing airlines and railways to their limits.
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