New Delhi, Dec. 7 -- Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday welcomed the Centre's decision to impose caps on economy-class airfares, saying that the "only way to protect public interest is price containment."

In a post on X, the Congress leader wrote, "I am glad that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has woken up at last and capped the Economy Class fares. As long the duopoly in the airline sector remains, caps on Economy Class fares must remain in force. Absent robust competition, the only way to protect public interest is price containment. The overwhelming majority of the passengers must be protected."

The Centre on Saturday directed all airlines to strictly follow newly prescribed fare caps unt...