Airfares jump, trains packed for destination T20 Final

Ahmedabad: With India in the final, all routes lead to Ahmedabad for fans wanting the men in blue to lift the trophy. But those trying to get here from other parts of the country are finding train and plane tickets way out of reach — due to prices, and limited availability. Train tickets from major metros have been sold out, while some airlines have hiked round-trip fares from key cities by 200%.

On a flight booking portal, one-way fares from Mumbai, which typically range between Rs 4,500 and Rs 6,000, have jumped to Rs 16,585 for March 7 to Ahmedabad from Mumbai and Rs 16,900 for return on March 9 from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. A 10am flight from Mumbai arriving in Ahmedabad at 11.20am was listed at Rs 33,071, reflecting peak pricing.




Tickets between Chennai and Ahmedabad that are usually around Rs 6,000, were quoted at about Rs 18,000, with return fares crossing Rs 19,000, according to passenger checks on booking platforms. Delhi was similar: Fares were around Rs 21,000 for March 7, rising to about Rs 33,000 for Sunday morning departures. Western Railway has added special service looking at the rush. Officials said one additional AC 2-tier coach and three additional AC 3-tier coaches have been added to Train No. 09027/09028 Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad AC Superfast Tejas Special. The train now has 19 coaches instead of 15. The railway said the move aimed to improve accommodation and convenience for passengers travelling on the special train amid increased demand due to the match. Metro services are likely to continue operations past midnight. Authorities are also considering a special paper ticket for travel to Motera stadium.