The question of unreasonable hike in airfares to Srinagarfrom various destinations during the closure of the National Highway had beentaken up by the local stakeholders with the highest authorities. The StateGovernor had also pleaded with the Prime Minister for resolving this problem.
There was a commitment at the Prime Minister’s level thatthe matter would be looked into and sorted out. A news item to the effect thatthe Directorate General of Civil Aviation had decided to step in to preventthese hikes not only in Kashmir but other areas especially during festivalseasons had appeared recently. They had declared to increase capacity on suchroutes to offset the sudden fare hike.
However, it is not known whether the issue had beenresolved? At the present moment the old practice of hiking the fares to a veryunreasonable extent during road closure still continues. The fares sometimesvirtually go through the roof! Apart from the fact that the tourism industry isgetting adversely affected, the local people are getting fleeced for theirnormal travel.
The air travel is a facility used by people to save time orsometimes in emergency situations especially of medical nature. Tourismactivity is welcome by all as it contributes to the economy especially by providingemployment during the tourist season. There is no doubt that the airlines toohave faced some hard times especially due to hike in aviation turbine fuel.
However, a new competition among these has been latelyassuming ugly proportions. Either they offer dirt cheap fares or they hikethese to unreasonable limits. Even safety has been given a go by sometimes. Thetickets on Delhi-Srinagar sector are going beyond rupees twenty thousand oneway on some days.
In fact, some of thepeople planning to travel to Kashmir from abroad have informed that they aregetting cheaper business class fares from various destinations abroad to Delhithan the fares being offered on Delhi-Srinagar sector. It is imperative thatthe problem is sorted out at the highest level to cap the airfares at areasonable limit. The sooner it is done, better it would be in view of thestart of the tourist season.