BENGALURU: After IndiGo’s mass flight cancellations affected travel plans of thousands of flyers across the country, private bus operators seized the moment and jacked up fares to exorbitant levels.
Bus fares from Bengaluru to Mumbai touched nearly Rs 9,000, while similar steep hikes were noticed to destinations like Ahmedabad and Pune, leaving stranded passengers with few affordable options.
Nataraj Sharma, president, Karnataka Private Bus Owners’ Association, said the bus fares surged sharply after flight cancellations, with operators charging four to eight times the usual rates. He condemned the practice, adding that on Friday, some out-of-state operators charged up to Rs 13,000 for a Bengaluru to Mumbai ticket, exploiting passengers desperate to find alternative transport.
“As of Saturday, anyone travelling to Mumbai or Pune is paying no less than Rs 3,000, and prices are going up to nearly Rs 9,000,” he said.
Shobhit Saurabh, complaining about the price he paid for a bus ticket, said, “I booked an IndiGo flight for Rs 5,000. It was cancelled, with the airline apologising and promising a refund. Now, I have booked a bus ticket for Rs 8,000 to travel from Pune to Bengaluru, which is much more than my flight fare.”
5 spl trains launched to ease rush
The Kempegowda International Airport recorded 165 cancellations, 86 arrivals and 79 departures, on Saturday as IndiGo flight disruptions entered the fifth day. Though crowds eased a little, hundreds of passengers were still stranded waiting for their luggage.
To help ease the situation, the Railways stepped in, introducing five special services. The South Western Railway (SWR), in coordination with Central, South Eastern and Southern Railway, announced special trains between December 6 and 10 to help thousands of passengers. Multiple services will operate on key routes including Bengaluru to Chennai, Yesvantpur to Hazrat Nizamuddin and Bengaluru to Pune. These include Train Nos. 06255/06256 and 06257/06258 between Chennai and Bengaluru. Additional long-distance relief services – Train Nos. 06259/06260, will run between Yesvantpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Bengaluru Cantonment. A special Bengaluru-Pune service (06263/06264) will operate on December 7 and 8.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said India is witnessing the worst aviation meltdown in its history with thousands of flights cancelled. “The IndiGo fiasco is the direct result of the government’s monopoly model. As always, it is ordinary Indians who are paying the price,” hie said. KIA, which is India’s third busiest airport with nearly 40 million travellers a year, is in complete chaos. This is hurting families, businesses and our national reputation, he said. “I urge the Centre to act immediately and bring this situation under control,” he demanded.
bus fares from b’luru to...
Mumbai Rs 3,000 - Rs 9,000
Pune Rs 2,800 - Rs 8,700
Ahmedabad Rs 3,000 - Rs 7,000