Kolkata: With trains sold out, airfares soaring and even bus operators charging steep rates, travelling from Kolkata to Bengal’s favourite Puja holiday destinations in north Bengal has become an expensive scramble.Airfares to Bagdogra have risen by more than 50% to Rs 7,200–8,500. Bus tickets to Siliguri, which usually cost Rs 1,600–2,000, are now selling for Rs 4,000–4,500 over the weekend ahead of the festive break, bringing the cost of a long-distance bus journey close to that of a flight.“We usually book our tickets well in advance, but this time we had planned an impromptu trip to Kalimpong. When we tried to book air tickets, the fares had shot up so much that flying to Bagdogra became difficult to justify. For a family of four, the airfare alone can make a big hole in the holiday budget. We checked bus fares too, but those had also increased sharply. We have finally changed our plan and will visit Purulia in our own car,” said Supratik Roy, a resident of Shyambazar.Ankita Sengupta, a resident of Bally, said she had considered taking a bus to Siliguri because it is usually much cheaper than flying.“But when tickets cost Rs 4,000–4,500 per person, the difference is so small that we are wondering whether it makes sense to spend so many hours on the road. I will wait one more day to see if bus fares come down. If they don’t, I may book a flight for my husband and me,” said Sengupta, a social media manager.Train travel is often the first choice for north Bengal for most travellers because it is affordable and convenient. But confirmed tickets are hard to get during the Puja rush, forcing many to choose between paying a premium for flights and spending far more than usual on buses.While Puja vacations have become costlier, flying home for the festivities has also become expensive for thousands of Kolkatans living in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar. Airfares to Kolkata have risen sharply over the weekend ahead of the festive break.Travel agents said Puja holidays are usually planned around school vacations and work schedules, making it difficult for families to change dates. When transport fares rise so sharply, travellers are forced to cut short their trips, reduce spending at the destination or reconsider the holiday altogether.“People who cannot finalise their plans months in advance are being penalised. By the time we tried booking, the cheaper options were gone. We still want to travel during the holidays, but the cost of simply reaching north Bengal has become a major concern,” said Anubhav Dutta, a resident of Dum Dum.