Due to the "exorbitant hike" in airfares for flights to Prayagraj by certain airlines, the Vishva Hindu Parishad said Monday that devotees were experiencing "serious inconveniences" when attending the Maha Kumbh Mela. The group urged the government to act quickly to resolve the issue.
While the Uttar Pradesh government is fully responsible for providing security and facilities for the devotees, numerous religious, social, and philanthropic organizations, as well as individuals, are performing selfless service for the convenience of the devotees attending the Kumbh Mela, according to VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
"However, some airlines are resorting to exorbitant airfare increases, taking unfair advantage of the growing number of passengers." They have increased their economy class fares by 200 to 700 percent, resulting in serious inconveniences for devotees visiting and returning from the Maha Kumbh," he stated. Bansal noted that the Indian Railways has expanded its services for pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh and returning home, while also keeping fares low.
However, devotees are having difficulty visiting the Maha Kumbh because railway tickets are no longer available to many due to increased passenger traffic, and such people are unable to purchase air tickets due to an exorbitant increase in airfare by some airlines, he explained.
"This is completely unfair and unethical," the VHP official stated. This is an opportunity to show hospitality, dedication, and a respectful reception to devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh for pilgrimage, not to collect "unfair fare" from them, he said.
"In such a situation, airline companies should limit their fares and pay special attention to expanding services and convenience to the passengers," Bansal pointed out.
"If airline companies do not take care of the ticket price of passengers visiting Kumbh and returning from there, then the Civil Aviation Ministry and other related departments should take immediate steps in this regard," he stated. "We hope that all the related departments and companies will seriously consider this and immediately stop this unfair and unethical act of collecting exorbitant fares," he added.
