App-based cab services to start at Surat airport

SURAT: Like the airports in the metro cities, passengers at the Surat airport will shortly be able to avail services of the web-based cab aggregators to commute in the Diamond City.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in the process of issuing e-tender for inviting proposals from the cab aggregators for setting up services at the Surat airport. The move will ensure hassle-free commuting and better services to air travellers in the country.

Official sources said that transportation is the biggest stumbling block at the Surat airport. Recently, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) extended the BRTS services at the airport, but the increase in flight frequency at the airport is not matching with the timings. However, the passengers coming from other cities are finding it difficult to commute from the airport to various parts of the city.

Shailesh Pradhan, a textile businessman said, “My client arrived at the Surat airport two days ago from Bengaluru and he could not find mode of transportation to arrive at my office in the NTM textile market at Ring Road. He called me from the airport and I readily asked my driver to fetch my client from the airport”

There are many passengers who pre-book the taxi when they arrive at the Surat airport.

Airport director, Sanjay Kumar Panigrahi said, “The taxi culture is not prevalent in the city. We have taxi services operated by Ola, Uber and other private firms. We want to invite the aggregators who could manage the travel needs of the passengers arriving and coming to the airport”

Sources said that the successful bidders will have to meet tender conditions, especially safety of passengers. Toll free complaint lines will have to be in place to aid passengers’ grievance redressal. The AAI tender conditions also fix rate per trip booking for airport based on their classification with minimum Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kilometres in the city.