Mahakumbh Air Travel Surge: Raghav Chadha Slams Airlines For Exploitative Fares To Prayagraj

AAP leader Raghav Chadha has accused airlines of taking advantage of the ongoing Mahakumbh festivities by significantly hiking flight fares to Prayagraj, thereby exploiting the devotees traveling for this sacred event. Typically, flight fares to Prayagraj range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, but during the Mahakumbh, airlines have been charging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000, prompting Chadha to demand government intervention, as reported by ANI.

Allegations of Profiteering by Airlines

In a video message shared on X, Chadha expressed his dismay over the exorbitant flight prices, which he claims are taking advantage of devotees who are making spiritual journeys to participate in the grand Mahakumbh. The Mahakumbh, considered one of the largest spiritual events for followers of Sanatan Dharma, is held once every 12 years, and this year's event in Prayagraj is particularly significant, attracting millions of devotees from around the world.

Chadha emphasized the sacred nature of the Mahakumbh and condemned airlines for profiting from the spiritual aspirations of devotees, as reported by ANI.. He stated, "It is unacceptable for airlines to charge such inflated prices during such an auspicious event. The usual fare is around Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, but now devotees are being forced to pay between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000. This profiteering must be stopped."

Past Advocacy for Fair Practices

This isn't the first time Raghav Chadha has raised concerns about unfair practices within the airline industry. In the past, he has highlighted issues like overpriced food at airport canteens, which led to the introduction of affordable options for passengers. Chadha is now calling for similar action on flight fares, urging the government to step in and regulate pricing during the Mahakumbh, ensuring fair access for all devotees.

He added, "When we raised the issue of overpriced food at airports, the government acted and introduced more affordable options. I am hopeful that this time too, the authorities will act swiftly to ensure that devotees traveling to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh are not exploited with unreasonable flight fares."

DGCA's Response to the Situation

In response to the growing concerns, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has intervened, urging airlines to increase capacity and rationalize fares for flights to Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh, as per ANI reports. On January 23, the DGCA met with airline representatives and urged them to add more flights and reconsider the current pricing structure in light of the surge in demand.

To address the situation, the DGCA has approved 81 additional flights for January 2025, bringing the total number of flights to Prayagraj to 132 from across India. Airlines such as SpiceJet and Akasa Air have already ramped up their services, with new direct flights being introduced from cities like Guwahati, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, in addition to existing services.