Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 10: In total violation of instructions of Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) some private airlines are charging exorbitant fares from passengers on Srinagar-Delhi flight.
Taking advantage of the abnormal situation created due to flash floods in Kashmir Valley, some private airlines despite the directives of the DGCA to all the airlines to cap the fares on Srinagar-Delhi and Leh-Delhi sectors to Rs 2800 and Rs 3000 respectively have charged exorbitant rates from people.
Throwing the directives of DGCA to winds, some of the private airlines have shown scant respect to the same in repatriating the stranded and marooned people from outside the Valley in flood ravaged Kashmir.
Instead of providing the concessions to these people who are already in great distress and trouble, some of the private airlines have considered it a best opportunity to mint money and fleece the people who are in distress.
Sources said the passengers having no alternative but to pay the sum to reach their homes and hearths at Jammu as their family members were in total shock and were worried for their welfare.
Having no alternative these passengers were left with no option but to bow before the demand, sources added.
Even the private transporters are also looting the passengers by charging them exorbitant rates which is 10 to 12 times more for shifting people from the make shift places to Srinagar airport which is hardly a distance of five to seven kilometers.
A private sumo charged Rs 2000 from a lady who was stranded in Srinagar from her make shift place to Airport which was hardly a distance of five kms.
However the Jet Airways said that they have complied with the guidelines of DGCA and have lifted the passengers on old tickets without charging any extra money from them though the date of their travel had exhausted already.
Sanjay Matoo, Manager of the Jet Air said that they respected the old tickets which had even the travel date four of five days earlier and the airlines did not charge even a single penny extra.
It may be recalled that DGCA to help the passengers trapped in flood ravaged Kashmir Valley issued directives to airlines to cap the fares on Srinagar –Delhi and Leh-Delhi sectors to Rs 2800 and Rs 3000.
The DGCA in its directives made it mandatory on the airlines that if an air traveler is cash strapped due to precarious situation prevailing in Kashmir Valley and elsewhere in the State, the air carriers should charge fares only after they reached Delhi.
The airlines have also been asked to mount additional flights to clear the rush of outbound tourists from Srinagar. These decisions were taken by the aviation regulator in consultation with the airlines in view of the flash floods in J&K and all airlines have agreed to the decision, official sources said. After the discussions with the airlines, the directives were issued by DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar to all airlines.
Sources said with most of Srinagar submerged in flood water, the passengers were finding it extremely difficult to reach the airport and those who were able to make it were not getting easy access to the planes.
In letters to various airlines flying to and from Srinagar, DGCA, Joint Director General Lalit Gupta asked all airlines must ensure that they not charge the prevalent airfare and instead charge only fixed airfare, which in any case should not exceed Rs 2800 (all inclusive) on Srinagar Delhi Sector till the flash flood situation prevails.
However there is no mention of any cap for the stranded passengers of Jammu at Srinagar or Leh, sources said, adding the number of the stranded people from Jammu is in thousands and in view of the bad condition of National Highway these people are also dependent on air travel to repatriate with their families in Jammu.
However, Air India had announced two days free service to the passengers from Srinagar to Delhi and Jammu.
Meanwhile, 500 stranded people were lifted from Srinagar to Jammu today, said Ramesh Kumar, Director Airport Authority of India.
While Air India operated a wide body Airbus A-330 to Srinagar to bring back 270 passengers, mostly tourists, free of charge, IndiGo flew 150 of them in a similar manner, officials of both carriers said.
Almost all airlines including GoAir, SpiceJet and Jet Airways have decided to mount additional flights to Srinagar to help stranded passengers return home.
The airlines were also carrying loads of relief materials, including food packets, blankets, drinking water and medicines, besides doctors and communication equipment to the flood-hit State.
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