Nagpur: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Winter Session, beginning December 16, has not only brought political fervor to the city but also a sharp spike in accommodation costs, with hotel prices surging by up to 300%. This hike comes as a double blow to travelers already grappling with skyrocketing airfares and limited train availability.
An analysis of online hotel tariffs reveals that room rates at prominent hotels like Le Meridien, Hotel Tuli Imperial, and Radisson Blu have seen significant hikes. For instance, Le Meridien’s nightly rate of Rs 9,500 on December 9 is set to escalate to Rs 30,000 by December 16. Similarly, Hotel Tuli Imperial will increase its tariff from Rs 7,805 to Rs 17,963, while Radisson Blu’s rates will jump from Rs 14,080 to Rs 38,400 during the same period.
Hotel representatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the surge to the marriage season and festive bookings. The demand for high-end accommodations has intensified with the arrival of politicians, bureaucrats, and officials for the session, further compounded by bulk wedding bookings.
Tejinder Singh Renu, President of the Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA), highlighted that the surge is a result of demand surpassing supply. “The influx of visitors during the Winter Session coincides with the marriage season, leading to scarcity of rooms, especially high-end ones. However, the ongoing development of new hotel projects in Nagpur is expected to stabilize tariffs in the future,” he said.
Session Travel Costs to Strain Common Citizens:
While political parties are expected to manage their workers’ expenses, ordinary citizens planning to raise issues during the Winter Session face severe financial challenges. Airfares on the Nagpur-Mumbai route have crossed Rs 20,000, and train seats are nearly unavailable. Even if travelers reach Nagpur, finding affordable lodging will remain an uphill task, as both premium and local hotels have significantly increased rates.
Travel Agencies Struggle Amid Price Surge:
Travel agencies have expressed their inability to assist travelers in mitigating the high accommodation costs. They cited the influx of visitors and the ongoing wedding season as reasons beyond their control, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of the steep prices.
