J&K guv urges Modi to reduce high Srinagar airfares

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday to intervene and get the airlines reduce the high fares they are charging for travel to Srinagar during winters.

"On behalf of Kashmiris, I want to bring to your (Modi's) notice that during winter (due to closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway) our people get stuck. The airlines charge as much as Rs 28,000 for a ticket. In this amount, one can visit Dubai and come back," Malik said, while addressing a function here in the presence of the prime minister.

"I request you that the issue be taken up with them (airlines) so that the airfares are reduced. The people here should get this facility," the governor said.

Malik said his administration had tried its best to prevail upon the airlines to reduce the airfares, but to no avail. "Even in the cases where examinations are scheduled the next day, they (airlines) were not ready to reduce the price by even one paisa."