Bengaluru: Private airlines are making a killing from the suspension of bus and train services to Mangaluru and Udupi due to the heavy landslides in the Shiradi, Sampaje and Charmadi ghat sections, by hiking their fares exorbitantly from Bengaluru to Mangaluru.
They are charging between Rs 18,000 and Rs 20,000, when the normal air fare from Bengaluru to Mangaluru is between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 and around Rs 2,000 if the booking is made early.
Every day nine flights are operated between the two cities by Air India, Jet Airways, Indigo and Spice Jet.
Angered by the airlines fleecing passengers, Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda tweeted, “Private airlines are busy making money. It’s shame. On August 16, Mangaluru to Bengaluru fare was Rs 18,000 as against the average of Rs 4000. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha should intervene immediately and also introduce more flights to Mangaluru.”
Despite the high fares , people have little choice but to cough them up as all private and KSRTC bus services have been suspended through the Shiradi ghat till August 25 and for a week in the Charmadi ghat section. And following several landslides, the Sampaje ghat connecting Bengaluru to Mangaluru, via Madikeri has also been closed to traffic.
Responding to complaints from passengers on social media, BJP MP from Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel has submitted a memorandum to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Suresh Prabhu and Air India Chief, Pradeep Singh Kharola, against the exorbitant fares of the private airlines. “I have also asked Air India to operate two more flights between Mangaluru and Bengaluru,” he told DC.
In response to his plea, Mr. Suresh Prabhu has now directed private airlines to cap their fares at around Rs. 10,000 for longer routes and at Rs. 8,000 for shorter routes.
