Taxi, cab-operators expressed burden due to drop and Pick up charges at airport

Aurangabad, June 15:

The levying of charges from the transport vehicles, arriving to drop or pick up the passengers, after three minutes, at the Chikalthana Airport is proving economical burden, grieved the taxis and cab-operators. They also expressed disappointment over the reduction in drop and pick-up timings from the previous five minutes to three minutes.

Presently, the Airport Authority of India's contractor is collecting Rs 20 if any car or vehicle (transport or non-transport) remains for more than three minutes on the drop and pick-up lanes. The taxi and cab operators claimed that the charges are unjust as the elderly or disabled passengers take more time either to get down or board the vehicle. Hence they demanded to immediately waive it off with immediate effect as the tourism industry is already going through a bad phase owing to lockdown in the district. The taxi or cab operators or other associates also underlined that the international or domestic air passenger first communicates with them and board their vehicle only if he/she is convinced about the service. The loading or unloading of passenger luggage is also a time-consuming process. Hence it is apparent that the vehicle would remain for more than three minutes.

The airport director D G Salve explained, " The decision has been taken in the interest of safety and security of the passengers boarding or de-boarding the flights. The lanes to drop and pick up the passengers are separate, but often people trespass them. The road opposite the entrance/exit is not so spacious and gets congested after parking three cars at one time. The rush of vehicles manifolds at the time of flight departure. The delay on the lane poses an inconvenience to other passengers. Hence the decision has been taken at the higher level after reviewing the situation."

According to Mohammed Eliyas of Tourist and Taxi Association, " Three minutes time limit is very less while dealing with a foreign customer. They speak, discuss their plan and then board the taxi only if they are convinced. The blowing of the whistle starts after three minutes. We are not responsible if there is a shortage of space. It is true that parking is the issue, but the tourism associates are fed up with the present situation. Hence the collection of additional parking charges is unjust."

The president of Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation (ATDF) Jaswant Singh said, " The tourism industry is trying to recoup with the ongoing situation. Indeed, the revision in parking charges is feeling a burden now. May it be a businessman or common man all are compelled to pay it. It is true that it takes time for the guests to come outside the entrance and transport in the vehicle. It takes more than three minutes to deboard 15 passengers from a tourist bus."

As reported earlier, the Aurangabad First in its today's edition under the headline ' Resentment over pick up and drop charge at the airport' has highlighted the voice of personal vehicle-owners against the levying of the charges.