Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I) today expressed its serious concerns over the unreasonable fare hikes by airlines operating on the Delhi-Jammu/Srinagar air route.
KCC&I in a statement issued here said that it has received feedback indicating an increase in air travellers to the valley, including tourists, non-resident Kashmiris, students, and patients returning for the celebration of the Eid festival at their homes.
“It has been observed that some airlines, in collusion with bulk ticket booking operators, are hiking the airfares at their will. This practice is adversely affecting the tourist business in Jammu & Kashmir and overburdening non-resident Kashmiris, students and patients travelling back to their homes in emergencies,” KCC&I said.
The Kashmir Chamber noted that the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, Government of India, had earlier observed such unwarranted fare-hiking practices and recommended the implementation of a pricing mechanism to ensure that passengers are not charged exorbitant prices. However, KCC&I said, the airlines have not taken these recommendations seriously and continue to hike fares irrationally.
The trade body has urged the Minister for Civil Aviation and Director General Civil Aviation Government of India to implement the recommendations of the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on the subject in letter and spirit.
Additionally, the Chamber has requested the airlines operating on the Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar route to operate additional flights to meet the growing travel demand to Srinagar.
“This unreasonable fare hike practice by airlines is tantamount to undue profiteering, causing a hurdle to the tourist movement and the return of non-resident Kashmiris, students and patients,” KCC&I said, adding it hopes that the authorities will take necessary actions to address these concerns.
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