Had traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway not been as frequent as they happen to be these days due to frequent rains, the air fares won’t rise as unprecedentedly as they are rising these days.
Absolutely there is nothing new in the unprecedented rise in air fares for the travelers from Delhi and other parts of the country to Srinagar during mid winter periods but hike in the airfares in post winter periods like the present one amid frequent traffic shut downs on Jammu-Srinagar highway just on the commencement of tourist season is a shocker for both the tourists and travel operators and as well as the local populations in Kashmir . Traffic movements going on suspension mode just on the commencement of the tourist season with air fares soaring unprecedentedly and Jammu- Srinagar highway witnessing frequent traffic blockades week after week won’t only reduce the ongoing surge in tourist footfall but will also hit the movement of supplies to Kashmir in the holy month of Ramadan. Had traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway not been as frequent as they happen to be these days due to frequent rains, the air fares won’t rise as unprecedentedly as they are rising these days. While the frequent traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway are hugely contributing to the unprecedented rise in air fares on Kashmir air routes, the opening of Sangaldan-Srinagar train track too did not ease much the travel from Jammu to Srinagar. Travelers won’t bother to pay more if the air fares would have risen by few hundred rupees but with three fold increase in fares the air travelers particularly the tourists don’t prefer air travel and consequently the surge in the tourists arrivals is likely to go down in coming days.
“While the intervention of Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) can bring down rising fares on Kashmir air routes, a bigger focus on reducing the frequent traffic blockades on Jammu –Srinagar highway can reduce the interest of travelers in air travels and consequently bring down the air fares on Kashmir air routes. Since rising air fares on Kashmir air routes and frequent traffic blockades on Jammu Srinagar highway have equally a direct bearing on tourist influx and uninterrupted transportation of essential commodities to Valley ahead of Eid Ul Fitr, the attention and intervention of the Government on both the rising airfares and as well as frequent traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway is overdue.”
While rising air fares necessitate the intervention of the Central Government through Director General Civil Aviations (DGCA), an increased focus on improvement in traffic movements on Jammu-Srinagar highway particularly its Ramban-Banihal track known for it’s huge vulnerability to deadly road accidents would also most probably contribute to fall in rising air fares on Kashmir air routes. While the intervention of Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) can bring down rising fares on Kashmir air routes, a bigger focus on reducing the frequent traffic blockades on Jammu –Srinagar highway can reduce the interest of travelers in air travels and consequently bring down the air fares on Kashmir air routes. Since rising air fares on Kashmir air routes and frequent traffic blockades on Jammu Srinagar highway have equally a direct bearing on tourist influx and uninterrupted transportation of essential commodities to Valley ahead of Eid Ul Fitr, the attention and intervention of the Government on both the rising airfares and as well as frequent traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway is overdue.
