Pay and park to visit airport police station

Amdavadis’ long-pending demand for a police station in the premises of Ahmedabad airport was fulfilled last month. But what has left people perplexed is why no parking space has been provided at the police station. Visitors to the police station are either compelled to park in ‘No Parking’ zone or shell out parking fees to park their vehicle in the airport parking bay.

For the past one year, the airport has been undergoing major changes with new features being added. As part of the airport development plan, the SVPI Airport Police Station was inaugurated by Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja on July 19. The police station covers airport related crime and traffic issues in addition to other issues cropping up in surrounding areas leading up to Kotarpur water works and banks of Sabarmati around cantonment area.

Parts of Sardarnagar and Hansol also fall under the police station’s jurisdiction.


Pay and park

Air travellers facing any issues or residents of any of these areas have to approach the airport police to file their complaints. Since the police station is located on way to the international airport terminal, a visitor to the station has to either park his/her vehicle in ‘No Parking Zone’ or have to pass through the toll booth and finish their work within 12 minutes of free parking time. Leavine one’s vehicle in the dedicated parking area will cost Rs 85 if you have a small car, Rs 100 for an SUV or Rs 20 to park your vehicle for two hours.

When asked about the lack of parking at the police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 4 Neeraj Badgujar said he was unaware of the issue. “I have been recently posted here. I am glad that you have brought up this issue to our notice. We will surely take it up and try to resolve it,” Badgujar said.

A visitor to the police station on condition of anonymity told Mirror, “I went to the police station for some work and had to park my bike on the road. But I failed to notice the ‘No Parking’ sign. To park my two-wheeler in the dedicated space I would have had to cross the toll booth and shell out parking fees.”

What complainants say

A complainant in a hit-and-run case said, “A cousin of mine drove me to the station, so I do not remember whether he paid parking fees. But a public utility should be free, I believe.”

Airport director Manoj Gangal said, “I will look into the matter as soon as possible.”

An airport source said that the director was in Delhi for the past two days for deliberations on change in parking policy and positive changes are expected soon.