As the festive rush for Diwali begins, airfares from Pune, Mumbai, and Hyderabad to Nagpur have skyrocketed, burning a hole in passengers’ pockets. With thousands heading home for the holidays, flight tickets that once cost a few thousand rupees are now being sold for as high as ₹20,000.
Over the past few days, air ticket prices have climbed sharply, and even budget airlines are charging premium rates. Online booking platforms show that last-minute fares are double or triple the usual rates, leaving many travelers stranded.
It’s not just flights — even bus operators have joined the price race. Pune-Nagpur and Hyderabad-Nagpur luxury bus tickets, which generally cost around ₹2,000 to ₹2,500, have now surged to ₹5,000–₹7,000. On some routes, fares have crossed ₹9,000, making the journey home for Diwali a costly affair for families and students alike.
Adding to the travel woes, train tickets from Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad to Nagpur are fully booked, with long waiting lists. With railway options exhausted, passengers are left with no choice but to pay exorbitant fares for flights and buses.
Travel agencies say the price surge is driven by demand and limited availability. “During the festive season, fares rise due to high passenger volume and fewer seats. It’s a yearly pattern,” said Manish Shede, Director, Dhanmandal Tours and Travels.
However, passengers have condemned the “exploitation” by travel companies. “Every Diwali, airlines and bus operators hike fares outrageously. The government must bring these rates under control,” said traveler Viraj Karkade.
For thousands of Nagpurians, the journey home this Diwali has literally taken flight — straight into the sky-high fare zone.
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