AGARTALA, Oct 7 (TIWN): Hundreds of people flying to Kolkata and other places from Agartala and vice versa have been badly hit by the sudden rise in air fares just ahead of the Durga puja.

Everyday, flights are either delayed or cancelled without any intimation and passengers are not even getting compensated. They are now being forced to book tickets at a higher price.

The air passengers of Tripura are facing serious problem as the air ticket fare for Agartala­ to Kolkata route has been hiked over Rs 5000 to 15000 from the last month. The passengers are getting enraged after facing the acute air ticket crisis, black marketing of travel agencies and foul ticket fares.

In the mean time, it is also learned that soon after puja a flight will be called from the service which may further raise the air fares.

On one side railway service is suspended due to the Broad Gauge conversion and on the other side dilapidated condition of the NH-44 has no way left the dwellers of the Tripura to travel outside the state in flight after paying huge amount of the flight fares.

Air service providers have hiked the ticket fare by taking the chance of mega block conversion. As because of mega block many passengers are not able to travel by train. Some of the passengers have alleged that, some travel agencies are continuing their black marketing in the name of ‘group ticket’.  There is no logic why an airlines company can charge up to Rs 15,000 for a 310 KM journey (aeronautical) from Agartala to Kolkata.

As because of Air India’s ticket crisis, many of the emergency patients are not able to fly Kolkata from Agartala through Air India’s flight. Air India is the only air service provider in Agartala which allows the emergency patients for fly to Kolkata or other states through stretcher.

Taking the advantage of the period of crisis with NH44 and suspension of the railway service, the people of Tripura are the most sufferers and are left with no other option other than travelling in flight with high fare tickets.