Kolkata: After voting, professionals and migrant workers are scrambling back to work, driving up demand for outbound flights and keeping fares elevated through the weekend. Earlier this week, a surge in last-minute travel to Kolkata had already sent airfares and train ticket prices soaring, as voters across the country hurried back ahead of the second phase of polling in Bengal. Many paid two to three times the usual fares to ensure they cast their votes. Now, the reverse flow is underway, as the same set of voters rushes to resume work.
Personal Stories Highlight the Rush
"I returned home on Wednesday morning in an early flight, cast my vote, had lunch, and rushed back to the airport for an evening flight," said Rusha Hazra, a Delhi-based PR professional. For others, the move to travel was driven by concerns over voter roll issues. Priyadarshini Bhan, who works in Noida, flew to Kolkata with her mother, spending around Rs 12,000 per ticket. "I didn't want to take a chance. We were told names could get permanently deleted. I'll fly back on Saturday," she said.
Airport Data Shows Massive Movement
Passenger traffic data at the airport underlined the scale of movement in the days leading up to polling. Incoming passenger numbers remained consistently high, peaking at 29,820 on April 26 and staying above 29,000 on April 27 (29,146) and April 28 (29,115), before dipping slightly to 26,554 on the poll day. Outgoing passenger traffic remained much lower than arrivals on all these days.
The post-poll exodus has once again nudged up airfares, though not to the extreme levels seen earlier in the week. Average ticket prices for travel between Thursday and Sunday remain significantly higher than usual across major routes. Flights to Delhi are ranging between Rs 9,000 and Rs 14,000, while Mumbai fares are hovering between Rs 11,000 and Rs 16,000.
Voter Concerns Drive Travel Decisions
Rishi Mukherjee, a south Kolkata resident, said: "I had to attend a hearing during SIR before my name was restored. Since I had already made that effort, I ensured I voted." Suchitra Das, who works as a domestic help at a household in Gurgaon, is also ready for her travel back home. "I am ready to board the train back to my workplace on Saturday morning," said the Patharpratima resident.
The trend highlights the logistical challenges faced by voters who work outside their home constituencies, often bearing significant costs to exercise their franchise. With polling phases continuing, similar travel surges are expected in other regions.
