Travel plans for hundreds of Maharashtra legislators and state bureaucrats have been thrown into disarray due to widespread flight disruptions, casting a shadow over the commencement of the Winter Session of the state legislature in Nagpur. With the session set to run till December 14, the scarcity of available flights, exacerbated by operational issues at a key airline, has created a significant logistical challenge.
Officials Scramble for Alternatives as Flights Vanish
The problem has been magnified because IndiGo, a major carrier for the Nagpur route, is facing substantial cancellations. This has left many lawmakers and officials stranded or searching for costly last-minute options. Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe confirmed the crisis, stating she has discussed the matter with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar.
"We will take stock of how many legislators booked their flights with IndiGo," Gorhe said. She noted that while some have bookings with Air India and others are using trains or roads, the situation remains fluid. If legislators are unable to reach Nagpur, we will approach Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with a request to arrange a special flight, she added. The Shiv Sena leader also plans to raise the issue with Union Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohod.
Compounding Factors Worsen the Crisis
The scale of the problem is vast. Over 350 legislators from both Houses, along with their assistants and support staff, need to travel to Nagpur, pushing the essential traveler count well over a thousand. A significant number hail from Mumbai and western Maharashtra, regions where air travel is the preferred and most efficient option.
To avoid the travel rush, many legislators had already arrived in Nagpur by Friday to attend a wedding. One lawmaker explained the rationale to TOI: "Flights are not available as the ones which are operational are fully booked. So it makes no sense to risk going back and then struggling to find a way to return to Nagpur." These officials will now stay in the city until the session's formal events begin on Sunday.
The pre-session rituals are adding to the urgency. The government's customary ‘tea party’ is scheduled for Sunday, followed by its first press conference. The opposition also plans to address the media the same day to outline its strategy, requiring the presence of all top leaders.
External Events and Road Traffic Add to the Pressure
Further straining travel infrastructure, Nagpur is also hosting a major event on Sunday commemorating the 350th year of martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. This national-level gathering is expected to bring in numerous invitees from across the country, compounding the shortage of flight seats and hotel accommodations.
Meanwhile, for legislators from regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada, the newly completed Samruddhi Expressway had become a reliable road link. With the air travel crisis, authorities anticipate a significant surge in vehicular traffic on this route as more people opt to drive to Nagpur.
The convergence of political, bureaucratic, and public travel to Nagpur this weekend has created a perfect storm, testing the state's administrative coordination and leaving many scrambling for a way to fulfill their constitutional duties.
