Prayagraj more important than London, so fares high: Union minister

NEW DELHI: Prayagraj is more important today than London and that is why more people are going there, specially because of the Maha Kumbh, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu has said on Monday, in response to a question from Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on prevailing high airfares to the holy city.

"I have stated that it is a demand driven economy. Prayagraj is more important than London and that is why more people are going there, especially, this is once in a 144 year event. It is a very special event not just for Indians or Hindus, but all over the world crores of people are trying to come to one location. That is why the demand," he added.

Naidu added that what used to be 6,700 sq metres of terminal capacity in Prayagraj airport, govt has increased to 18,000 sq metres.

Raising the issue of spike in airfares, Tiwari highlighted that the flights from New Delhi to London cost less than the ones to Prayagraj from various Indian cities, which have surged to over Rs 50,000.