Durga Puja travel fares from Kolkata to North Bengal have risen sharply as confirmed train seats become difficult to secure, leaving travellers with more expensive flights and buses as their main alternatives during the festival holiday period.
According to a report by Sanmarg – Kolkata, airfares on flights from Kolkata to Bagdogra have increased to between Rs 7,200 and Rs 8,500. Bus tickets to Siliguri, which normally cost about Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000, are now priced at Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500.
The increase in airfares has been attributed to high demand for flights to North Bengal’s popular tourist destinations during the Puja holidays. The report said fares for Bagdogra flights have risen by more than 50 per cent, while the absence of confirmed train tickets is pushing more passengers towards air and road travel.
Anjani Dhanuka, regional president of the Travel Agents Association of India, provided the information on the fare movement, according to the report. The report also cited travel agents who said demand was being driven by school holidays and fixed leave schedules for working passengers.
Train travel is generally considered the more affordable and convenient option for reaching North Bengal from Kolkata. However, heavy festive demand has made confirmed seats difficult to obtain. With airfares rising and bus tickets costing more than twice their usual level in some cases, the price gap between the two alternatives has narrowed.
The higher fares are affecting not only residents of Kolkata planning trips to North Bengal, but also people living in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar who want to return to Kolkata during Durga Puja. For these passengers, the availability and cost of transport are closely tied to school calendars, workplace leave limits and fixed festival dates.
Travel agents told the publication that many families cannot shift their travel dates because of school schedules and employment commitments. As a result, some travellers are considering shorter trips, reducing their spending at destinations or cancelling their plans altogether.
The fare changes also show how limited transport capacity can affect mobility during a predictable annual travel peak. When train seats are unavailable, passengers are forced to choose between faster but costlier air travel and buses whose festive prices have moved substantially above normal levels.
The report did not provide details of any additional trains, fare controls or other official measures to expand travel options during the Puja period. For passengers still planning journeys, the immediate choices remain securing an available ticket at the prevailing price, changing travel dates where possible or reconsidering the duration and scope of their holiday.
