Kolkata to North Bengal travel fares have risen sharply ahead of the Puja break, with Bagdogra airfares climbing to Rs 7,200–8,500 and bus tickets to Siliguri reaching Rs 4,000–4,500 as trains remain sold out, according to a report by the Times of India.
Airfares to Bagdogra are up by more than 50%, while bus tickets that usually cost Rs 1,600–2,000 have more than doubled over the weekend before the festive break. The increase has brought the cost of a long-distance bus journey close to that of a flight, leaving travellers with fewer affordable options for reaching destinations such as Kalimpong and other parts of north Bengal.
Train travel is generally the first choice for travellers heading from Kolkata to north Bengal because it is comparatively affordable and convenient. However, confirmed tickets have become difficult to secure during the Puja rush. Travellers are consequently having to choose between paying a premium for air travel and spending substantially more than usual on buses.
Supratik Roy, a Shyambazar resident, told the Times of India that his family had planned an impromptu trip to Kalimpong but found that the increase in airfare made flying difficult to justify. After finding that bus fares had also risen sharply, the family changed its plan and decided to visit Purulia by car instead.
Ankita Sengupta, a Bally resident, said she had considered taking a bus to Siliguri because it was usually cheaper than flying. With tickets now priced at Rs 4,000–4,500 per person, she said the time required for the road journey made the fare difference less attractive. She was considering waiting to see whether bus fares declined before deciding between bus and air travel.
The higher costs are also affecting Kolkatans living in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar who plan to return home for the festivities. Airfares to Kolkata have risen sharply over the weekend ahead of the festive break, the report said.
Travel agents said Puja travel is often tied to school vacations and work schedules, making it difficult for families to shift their travel dates. Travellers who cannot finalise plans months in advance are therefore more likely to lose access to lower fares. Anubhav Dutta, a Dum Dum resident, said the cost of reaching north Bengal had become a major concern even though he still wanted to travel during the holidays.
The fare increases are prompting some travellers to shorten their trips, reduce spending at their destinations or reconsider their holiday plans. The immediate travel choices remain tied to ticket availability and prices across trains, buses and flights during the festive period.
