NEW DELHI (TIP): The aviation ministry has again proposed regulating fares to prevent airlines from charging exorbitant prices in crunch times. Union minister of state for aviation Mahesh Sharma admitted that airlines ‘gamble’ by charging extreme fares – both while going low as well as on the upper side.

Senior aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s office had late last year initiated a move to cap maximum economy fares at Rs 20,000, a move that did not make much headway then. Sharma said the ministry has begun informal discussions on the issue of extreme fares being charged by airlines. “I feel there should be some limit….but then there are international guidelines on fares which we need to study. Airlines should not swing to extremes, this is gambling.”