Civil Aviation Minister Announces 50% Cut In Airfares To Prayagraj Amid Mahakumbh Rush

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced a 50% reduction in airfares for passengers travelling to the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, as reported by NDTV.

The revised fares will be implemented from February 1, according to the minister.

This move follows three meetings between the government and airline companies, during which the government directed airlines to lower their ticket prices.

Airfares to Prayagraj had sharply increased during the ongoing Mahakumbh.

Despite the fare reduction, the government has ensured that airlines will not incur losses due to the price cuts, NDTV reported.

Previously, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, had instructed airlines to adjust airfares for Prayagraj flights following a meeting with airline representatives on January 23, 2025.

The DGCA also approved 81 additional flights in January to accommodate the surge in demand, bringing the total number of flights to and from Uttar Pradesh's holy city to 132.

However, this led to a major 21-fold increase in ticket prices for Delhi-Prayagraj routes.

The Mahakumbh, which began on January 13, will conclude on February 26. Its total attendance has already surpassed 199.4 million. Earlier this week, a stampede at the main bathing ghats resulted in at least 30 fatalities due to the overwhelming crowds.

In addition, a temporary city has been established across 4,000 hectares (9,990 acres or approximately the size of 7,500 football fields) along the riverbanks, complete with 150,000 tents to house the large number of devotees, accompanied by nearly an equal number of toilets.