Domestic airfares across India have surged during the Dussehra and Durga Puja travel period from October 16 to 20, 2026, with last-minute one-way tickets on several major routes costing significantly more than their usual off-peak rates. The increase is creating additional financial pressure for families travelling home, students, migrant workers and passengers who cannot book their journeys in advance.

Indicative fares for Friday, October 16, show sharp increases across several domestic routes. Chennai to Tiruchirappalli tickets were advertised at around ₹9,896, compared with an off-peak reference fare of ₹5,066, an increase of approximately 95%. Mumbai to Delhi fares reached ₹16,016 against a baseline of around ₹5,735–₹6,400, while Bengaluru to Ahmedabad tickets were priced between ₹12,201 and ₹13,240, compared with a reference fare of approximately ₹6,431.

Kolkata to Hyderabad fares also rose to around ₹10,801–₹11,536, against an off-peak reference of ₹7,231. These are indicative advertised fares and may change as seat availability and demand fluctuate.

The pressure extends beyond these routes. Reports have highlighted Chennai to Mumbai fares reaching ₹30,000 and Chennai to Hyderabad tickets costing as much as ₹27,000 for October 16. According to Cleartrip's PeekABoo tracker, the average one-way fare between Chennai and Kolkata was approximately ₹15,500 during October 11–20, nearly 96% higher than the off-peak average of ₹7,900.

Why Are Airfares Rising?

The festive calendar has concentrated travel demand into a short period. Durga Puja celebrations began around Maha Shashti on October 16, followed by Maha Navami on October 19 and Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, on October 20. The overlap of holidays, family reunions and leisure travel has increased demand on popular routes.

Airlines generally use demand-based pricing, meaning fares can rise as lower-priced seats sell out and departure dates approach. Higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs and fuel surcharges introduced by Indian carriers have added to the pressure. Passengers booking at short notice are particularly affected, especially when work commitments, leave approvals or financial constraints prevent early planning.

The Impact on Travellers and the Hospitality Sector

The rise in airfares is making festive travel more expensive for families and individuals who need to reach their hometowns. A short domestic journey, such as Chennai to Tiruchirappalli, can become a significant expense when ticket prices approach ₹10,000.

Students and migrant workers travelling between major cities and their hometowns face similar challenges. When fares rise sharply, many passengers turn to trains, buses or private vehicles, putting additional pressure on alternative transport services and road networks.

The impact also extends to tourism and hospitality. Higher transport costs can discourage discretionary trips, shorten holidays and reduce spending on hotels, restaurants, local transport and shopping. Destinations that depend on domestic visitors may feel the effects if travellers decide to postpone or cancel their plans.

Calls for Greater Fare Transparency

The sharp increases have renewed discussions about airfare regulation and consumer protection. The government has indicated that airfare rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, have been finalised and that publication is expected within two weeks, according to reports. However, the absence of an immediate fare cap means passengers continue to face market-driven prices during the current festive rush.

A balanced approach could help protect consumers without preventing airlines from responding to demand or managing operating costs. Publishing the pending rules would provide greater clarity, while a temporary festive-season monitoring system could help authorities identify unusually steep increases on high-demand routes.

Other possible measures include publishing route-level fare ranges, displaying total ticket prices and mandatory charges more clearly, and examining how far last-minute fares rise above recent average levels. Airlines and airports could also explore additional capacity on heavily booked routes wherever operational conditions permit.

Strengthening alternative transport options is equally important. Additional trains, more bus services and better coordination between state transport agencies could provide passengers with more affordable choices during major holiday periods. Any measures to protect essential travellers, including students, senior citizens, medical passengers and low-income workers, would need careful planning to ensure that support reaches those who need it most.

As festive travel demand continues to test affordability, the immediate priorities are clearer fare disclosures, effective monitoring and timely regulatory action. Over the longer term, stronger competition, adequate flight capacity and predictable consumer-protection rules could help create a more transparent and accessible domestic aviation market.

On October 15, 2026, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) marks 118 years since its extension to Udhagamandalam, popularly known as Ooty. More than a century after the railway connected the Nilgiri hills with a remarkable engineering achievement, the journey continues to attract travellers who come to experience its winding tracks, mountain views, tunnels, bridges and historic locomotives.

Often called the toy train, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway is much more than a scenic attraction. It is a living example of railway engineering, a part of India's UNESCO-recognised Mountain Railways heritage and one of Tamil Nadu's most distinctive tourism experiences.

However, as travel expectations evolve, an important question deserves attention: How can the Nilgiri Mountain Railway improve its passenger experience and global appeal without losing the character that makes it special?

The answer lies in upgrading the experience around the railway while preserving the heritage at its heart.

A Journey Built on History and Engineering

The idea of connecting the Nilgiri hills by rail dates back to 1854. However, the challenging mountain terrain meant that construction did not begin until 1891.

The first section, connecting Mettupalayam and Coonoor, opened on June 15, 1899. The railway was extended to Ooty in 1908, completing its approximately 46-kilometre route through the Nilgiris.

One of its defining features is its rack-and-pinion system, which helps trains negotiate steep gradients. The route passes through places including Kallar, Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti and Lovedale, offering passengers changing views of the landscape as the train climbs towards Ooty. In July 2005, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway became part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mountain Railways of India. This recognition reflects its engineering significance and the importance of preserving the railway as a historic transport system.

Today, the journey remains a memorable experience for railway enthusiasts, photographers, domestic tourists and international visitors. Yet its next chapter should focus not only on attracting more passengers but also on making the journey more comfortable, accessible and informative.

The Gap Between Heritage and Passenger Comfort

A historic railway can offer an extraordinary journey, but the overall experience begins long before the train leaves the station.

For passengers, the condition of washrooms, availability of drinking water, waiting arrangements, signage and access to basic assistance can shape their impression of the destination. These details become particularly important on a journey that takes several hours and attracts families, senior citizens and international travellers. Reports on the railway have highlighted concerns about inadequate tourist facilities at stations along the route. Addressing these needs should be part of a wider effort to strengthen the passenger experience.

Clean, functional and well-maintained washrooms should be a priority at major stations and intermediate halts where facilities can be provided. Waiting areas need adequate seating, weather protection, lighting and drinking water. Clear signs should help passengers identify platforms, boarding points, exits and available amenities without confusion. Accessibility also deserves greater attention. Ramps where feasible, handrails, priority seating, accessible information and trained staff assistance can make the experience easier for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities.

These improvements need not change the railway's historic appearance. With careful planning, they can be introduced in ways that respect the character of its stations and surrounding landscape.

A Better Experience Begins Before Boarding

For many visitors, booking a ticket is the first step towards experiencing the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The process should be as straightforward as the journey is memorable.

Clear online booking information, transparent seat allocation, understandable cancellation rules and timely updates about train operations can help passengers plan with confidence. Information about journey duration, boarding points, luggage arrangements and accessibility should be easy to find. During peak tourist periods, clear boarding queues and regulated platform access can reduce confusion. Staff support at busy stations would also help families and first-time visitors navigate the process.

Weather-related disruptions require particular attention. The Nilgiris' terrain and monsoon conditions can affect railway operations. Better passenger communication, timely service alerts and clear guidance on cancellations or alternative travel arrangements can reduce uncertainty when services are disrupted.

The objective is not to promise uninterrupted operations in challenging mountain conditions, but to ensure that passengers receive reliable information and practical assistance when plans change.

Taking the Heritage Experience Beyond the Train Ride

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has a story worth telling at every stage of its journey. Its history, engineering, stations, bridges, tunnels and relationship with the Nilgiri landscape offer opportunities to make the experience more engaging. Multilingual audio guides, QR-code information points and well-designed displays could introduce passengers to the railway's development and explain the technology behind its steep-gradient operations.

Small heritage interpretation centres at suitable locations, including Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Ooty, could showcase historic photographs, route maps, engineering details and the people who helped build and operate the railway. For international visitors, information in languages such as English, French, German and Japanese could improve accessibility. Tamil and Hindi information would also serve a wider range of domestic travellers.

The railway could explore curated experiences such as photography-focused journeys, guided heritage tours, tea-estate visits and special services featuring historic locomotives where operationally feasible. Shorter experiences around Coonoor and Ooty could also appeal to travellers who cannot spare several hours for the complete uphill journey.

Any such offering should be planned around railway capacity, safety, conservation requirements and the needs of regular passengers. Heritage tourism should complement the railway's operations rather than place additional pressure on them.

Food, Local Products and the Nilgiri Identity

A mountain railway journey also presents an opportunity to introduce visitors to the region's food, produce and local craftsmanship.

Hygienic cafés or kiosks at suitable stations could offer Nilgiri tea, coffee, locally made chocolates, bakery products and regional specialities. Souvenirs such as miniature locomotives, illustrated route maps, postcards, tea hampers and locally made crafts could help passengers take home a memory of the journey.

These facilities should be designed to maintain cleanliness, manage waste responsibly and avoid unnecessary plastic packaging. There is also an opportunity to connect railway visitors with local guides, homestays, tea estates and community-led experiences. Carefully developed partnerships could encourage travellers to spend more time in the region while creating opportunities for local businesses.

The railway's appeal should not end when passengers reach Ooty. It can become part of a broader Nilgiris itinerary connecting Coonoor's tea-growing landscape, local culture, nature experiences and the region's hospitality sector.

Can the Nilgiri Mountain Railway Become a Global Tourism Icon?

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway already has several qualities that international travellers seek: a distinctive engineering system, a historic route, a dramatic landscape and a recognised heritage identity.

Its international appeal could be strengthened through better visibility on global travel platforms, partnerships with tour operators, heritage railway communities and travel writers, and clearer connections with accommodation and sightseeing options.

Packages combining the railway with stays in Ooty or Coonoor, tea-estate visits and local experiences could make trip planning easier for overseas visitors. Better information about connections from Coimbatore and onward road transfers could also help travellers build the railway into a wider South Indian itinerary. However, international promotion must be matched by improvements on the ground. Marketing a heritage experience creates expectations, and the facilities, information and service arrangements must be ready to support them.

The railway should not be modernised simply to imitate other destinations. Its strength lies in its own identity. The goal should be to make that identity easier to discover and more comfortable to experience.

Conservation Must Come Before Commercial Expansion

Any upgrade must recognise that the railway's historic infrastructure and surrounding landscape are central to its value.

Modern facilities should be introduced with careful consideration for historic stations, locomotives, bridges, tunnels and the natural environment. Construction near the track, new lighting, signage and other additions should be planned in line with appropriate heritage conservation requirements. Waste segregation, reduced single-use plastics, native planting and responsible visitor management can support a more sustainable tourism model.

The railway's landscape is part of the experience, not simply a backdrop for photographs. Protecting it is essential to preserving the destination's appeal for future generations.

The Next 118 Years Begin With the Right Priorities

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway does not need to sacrifice its heritage to improve its tourism potential. It needs cleaner facilities, better accessibility, clearer information, more reliable passenger communication and stronger connections with the surrounding destination.

The first priorities should be practical: improve station amenities, strengthen safety and weather preparedness, simplify passenger information and ensure that visitors can navigate the journey with confidence. Further opportunities, including curated heritage experiences, local partnerships and international promotion, can build on these foundations. As the railway marks 118 years since its extension to Ooty, the occasion offers more than an opportunity to celebrate its past. It is also a moment to consider what passengers should experience in the years ahead.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway's future should not be measured only by the number of tourists it attracts, but by how well it preserves its heritage, serves its passengers and shares the story of the Nilgiris with the world. Its next chapter can be one where historic engineering meets thoughtful hospitality, local communities benefit from tourism, and every journey remains true to the character that made the railway special in the first place.

The aim is simple: not to make the Nilgiri Mountain Railway something different, but to help it become the best possible version of itself.

Amid the ongoing concerns over paneer adulteration, food safety inspections and reports exposing analogue paneer products are regularly making headlines in the news and on social media. Recently, reports emerged that the Central Food Safety Department had asked Tamil Nadu's Food Safety Department to submit Milky Mist paneer samples for laboratory testing. The company later clarified that it had not received any notice from FSSAI or the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department directing an inquiry into its paneer products.

Amid these discussions, we tested Milky Mist paneer using three simple methods: the hot water test, vinegar test and heat test. During our checks, we did not observe any noticeable changes in the product's colour or smell that raised immediate concerns. However, these home-based tests cannot scientifically confirm the purity of paneer, which requires proper laboratory testing too.

In India's dairy market, growing brands like Milky Mist, based in Erode, Tamil Nadu, have introduced a diverse range of dairy products to meet changing consumer preferences. At a time when adulteration concerns are creating questions around paneer, product transparency and reliable information are important for helping consumers make informed choices.

Checking the FSSAI licence details, packaging information, manufacturing and expiry dates, and available QR codes can help consumers learn more about the products they purchase. Milky Mist provides product information on its packaging, giving customers details to check before buying.

The brand has also expanded its portfolio beyond traditional dairy products, with recent additions across ice creams, beverages and high-protein product lines. Its ice cream range features different flavours, including options developed for Indian consumer preferences, while its sugar-free ice creams have also attracted consumer interest.

As dairy brands continue to introduce new products, maintaining consumer trust through quality standards, transparency and responsible communication remains essential.

Three Simple Paneer Checks You Can Try at Home

1. Hot Water Test: Place a small piece of paneer in hot water for around five to ten minutes and observe any changes in its texture or appearance. Unexpected changes may raise questions, but this test alone cannot confirm whether the paneer is pure or adulterated.

2. Vinegar Test: Adding vinegar to paneer is sometimes suggested as a home-based check. However, the reaction depends on the paneer's composition and preparation method, so it cannot reliably distinguish genuine paneer from analogue products.

3. Heat Test: Heating a small piece of paneer may reveal changes in its texture, smell and appearance. However, these changes can vary depending on moisture, fat content and processing methods. Burning paneer with a matchstick is not a reliable purity test and should be avoided.

These methods can help people observe their food, but they cannot replace laboratory testing or establish the purity of a product.

Every credible dairy brand represents more than just a business. Behind the products on our tables are thousands of people, including milk-producing farmers, procurement teams, processing employees and others who contribute to bringing dairy products to consumers. Their efforts are an important part of the industry, and maintaining quality and transparency helps build lasting relationships with customers.

As consumers, we should make informed choices, check product details and seek reliable information whenever concerns arise. Brands also have a responsibility to communicate transparently and ensure that quality standards remain a priority. Ultimately, trust in dairy products comes from a combination of responsible production, credible testing, clear product information and informed consumer decisions.