As the Diwali weekend approaches, flight and bus fares across India have seen a massive spike. Last-minute air tickets are selling at two to three times their normal prices, while train seats are nearly impossible to find. From Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi to Kolkata and Guwahati, ticket costs have surged amid a nationwide travel rush.
Airfares Double or Triple on Major Routes
Between October 17 and 18, just days before Diwali, airfares from Hyderabad to Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Patna, and Jaipur nearly doubled. Flights from Chennai to Delhi, earlier priced around ₹5,900, now cost ₹30,000 or more. Routes to Mumbai, Kolkata, and Guwahati have seen similar spikes, with prices jumping four to fivefold compared to usual rates.
DGCA’s Price Cap Fails to Contain Hikes
Despite directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to monitor fares and expand flight capacity, prices continue to soar. Airlines claim record demand and full bookings. For instance, a Mumbai–Kolkata ticket now costs over ₹27,000, while Delhi–Kolkata and Hyderabad–Kolkata one-way tickets exceed ₹15,000–₹18,000. Even with 1,700 additional flights planned, prices remain sky-high.
Bus Fares Triple as Demand Peaks
Inter-state bus fares have also surged dramatically. Routes from Chennai to Coimbatore, Madurai, and Trichy, once priced between ₹400–₹1,000, now cost ₹1,800–₹4,200. Similarly, sleeper coach tickets from Pune to Nagpur that usually cost ₹1,200 are now over ₹3,000. Private operators cite heavy demand and limited availability as key factors behind the steep hikes.
Train Bookings Hit by Tech Glitches
Adding to the chaos, the IRCTC website faced outages as thousands rushed to book train tickets. Downdetector reported widespread issues with both the site and app. With packed trains, overbooked buses, and inflated airfares, India’s transport system once again faces festive-season stress, highlighting the growing gap between demand and available capacity.
