New Delhi, May 5 (IANS): The Congress lashed out at the Centre on Tuesday for its decision to "impose excessive costs" on NRIs flying in special flights from the Covid affected countries, calling it an "inhumane act".

"It was due to the protests by a large number of expatriates and their relatives as well as the general publics, over the past few days, the Central government has taken the decision to bring back our citizens from abroad," said Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.

He added that those who are most in trouble now have come forward to fly in special aircraft in accordance with the government's directives to return home somehow. However, he claimed it is "cruel" that the Central government has taken "advantage of this plight of expatriates by increasing the price of air fares up to three times".

Venugopal called it "inhumane" while urging the Centre to take urgent steps to provide free travel to the most vulnerable, the unemployed, the sick and the pregnant and others on normal fare.

The travel from other Covid affected countries would begin in a phased manner from May 7, according to a communique from the Home Ministry. However it can be availed against payments for the travel.

Earlier, the Congress targeted the Centre claiming that the government is charging migrant labourers who are being brought home through special trains with its interim chief Sonia Gandhi offering to foot their bills which evolved into a political storm.