For the third day in a row, major flight disruptions have thrown travel plans into chaos, creating a tale of two cities. While taxi operators in Chandigarh are capitalising on the crisis by charging exorbitant fares, private bus operators in Nagpur are providing much-needed relief without hiking prices.
Chandigarh: Stranded Passengers Pay Double the Fare
The crisis escalated on Friday when all IndiGo flights from Chandigarh to Delhi were cancelled due to what the airline termed 'operational issues'. This left numerous travellers, particularly those with international connections from Delhi's IGI Airport, scrambling for alternatives.
With time running out, many had no choice but to book last-minute taxis. Passengers reported paying fares that were nearly double the normal rate. The usual cost of Rs 5,000-6,000 for a taxi to Delhi skyrocketed to around Rs 10,000.
One affected couple, Arun Kumar and Naina, who were on their way to Canada, shared their ordeal. "We paid Rs 10,000 for a taxi to IGI. Just last week, our friends made the same journey for Rs 5,500," they said. While some travellers with more time switched to trains, the majority were forced to cough up the extra money for a cab to avoid missing their crucial international flights.
Nagpur: Bus Operators Rise to the Occasion
In stark contrast to the scene in Chandigarh, the travel disruption in Nagpur saw a different kind of response. Here, abrupt flight cancellations forced hundreds of passengers to turn to private sleeper bus operators for urgent travel to major metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Remarkably, these operators did not inflate their fares despite the sudden surge in demand. Private bus operator Mukesh Chaurasiya, who runs a fleet of sleeper coaches, confirmed this. "We charged normal fares. People were genuinely relieved because they had no other option left," he stated.
Chaurasiya's service became a lifeline. "Yesterday alone, I provided four to five buses from Nagpur to Mumbai after flights got cancelled. My buses even had to go directly to the airport because so many passengers were stranded, especially after the Bengaluru flight was cancelled," he told TOI. He added that the demand remains high, with five to seven buses scheduled from Mumbai to Nagpur and inquiries pouring in from other cities, though capacity is limited.
Spike in Bookings and Stable Fares
Other private bus operators in Nagpur also confirmed a significant spike in emergency bookings. An online check for Saturday's buses from Nagpur to Mumbai revealed that AC sleeper seats were available for less than Rs 3,000. While fares on the Nagpur-Bengaluru route showed some increase, routes to other destinations like Pune and Hyderabad saw little to no inflation in prices.
The ongoing situation highlights the vulnerability of air travellers to operational snags and the critical role played by surface transport during such crises. It also underscores a stark difference in how service providers in different regions respond to sudden opportunity, with some choosing profit and others opting for public service.
