Gujjar stir: Airlines hike fares as ticket demand overshoots

Travellers have no option but to pay twice or thrice the actual fare as the demand has raised after cancellation of numerous trains due to the ongoing Gujjar agitation.

"Airfares are constantly rising for the last two-three days. Yesterday, the fare for Jaipur-Delhi flight was around Rs 8,000 but today its around Rs 10,000," Anjana Braham, a city-based travel agent, told PTI here.

"Fare for Mumbai which used to be around Rs 6,000-7,000 in normal days is also above Rs 12,000 today," she said.

Another travel agent said the agitation has hit their business in the peak holiday season.
The number of cancellation is rising daily following diversion and cancellation of trains due to the agitation, he said.

According to various airlines here, bookings are full for today and tomorrow while a few seats remain for tomorrow's Jaipur-Mumbai flights.

Over 50 trains are affected in the Delhi-Mumbai, Jaipur- Delhi and Ajmer-Indore routes as Gujjars have blocked rail tracks passing from Bharatpur, Dausa and Bhilwara districts.

Traffic on Jaipur-Bharatpur-Agra National Highway is also affected, while tourists are avoiding Rajasthan due to the ongoing stir.