The cost of flying to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh has skyrocketed by about 600% because of the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela. This event sees millions of people taking a holy dip in the Ganges River, especially on January 29, which is an important day known as ‘Mauni Amavasya.’
So many people have already attended the gathering—over 12 crore (120 million)—since it started on January 13. The festival occurs every 12 years and will wrap up on February 26.
Flights from Delhi to Prayagraj are now costing more than ₹21,000 for a one-way ticket. People flying from Mumbai have to pay between ₹22,000 and ₹44,000. Those coming from Bengaluru will spend around ₹26,000 to ₹48,000 for a direct flight. Normally, these tickets would cost around ₹5,000.
The increase in airfares during festive times is a frequent issue in India. Last February, a parliamentary panel suggested the government should make rules to prevent sudden price hikes.
To help, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to lower their prices for flights to Prayagraj. They also approved 81 extra flights in January to increase the total to 132 flights to meet the high demand.
While airlines say ticket prices go up due to supply and demand, many people think this is unfair. On Sunday, official reports indicated that around 1.17 crore (11.7 million) pilgrims had taken a dip in the Sangam.
Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu promised to look into the rising airfare issue and find ways to make flights more affordable for everyone.
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