The Sankranti festival has brought with it skyrocketing travel costs as lakhs of people head to their hometowns to celebrate with their families. Private travel agencies and airlines have significantly raised ticket prices, burdening passengers and drawing widespread frustration.
Private bus operators, who typically charge modest fares, have hiked prices by three to four times. For instance, a non-AC bus ticket from Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam, usually Rs 750, now costs Rs 2,000, while AC sleeper buses on the same route are priced at Rs 5,000, up from Rs 1,500. Similar increases are seen on other popular routes: Vijayawada to Hyderabad fares have surged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500, and AC bus fares to Rayalaseema destinations such as Kadapa and Tirupati have risen to Rs 3,500-4,000 from Rs 1,200.
Routes from Hyderabad to Nellore now cost Rs 3,000 for AC sleeper buses, compared to the usual Rs 1,500. Non-AC sleeper buses have risen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500, while non-AC bus fares have doubled from Rs 850 to Rs 2,000. Bengaluru to Nellore routes have seen similar jumps, with AC sleeper tickets rising from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500.
Also Read: Traffic Advisory Issued for NH-65 Ahead of Sankranti Rush
Travelers like G. Kaavyasri, a software employee from Bengaluru, expressed frustration with these hikes. She noted that her family of four had to pay an additional Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per ticket to travel to Guduwada for the festival. “This flexi-pricing policy is unfair and imposes a huge burden on passengers during the festive season,” she said, urging authorities to regulate fare hikes.
The airfare scenario is no better, with ticket prices rising dramatically in recent days. Flights from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, typically under Rs 3,000, now cost between Rs 11,000 and Rs 16,000. Similarly, Bengaluru to Vijayawada flights, which usually cost Rs 3,500, have surged to Rs 13,000-16,000. Prices for flights from Delhi to Vijayawada have spiked from Rs 6,500 to Rs 21,000, while Chennai to Vijayawada flights have risen to Rs 13,500 from an average of Rs 3,500.
With trains and buses fully booked, many passengers have turned to air travel, further driving up ticket prices. Sources at airports indicate that these high fares may persist even after the festival season ends.
The travel cost surge has caused significant distress among passengers, highlighting the need for stricter regulations to prevent exploitation during peak travel periods.
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