New parking rules trigger chaos, confusion at Pune airport
Joy Sengupta | TNN | Updated: Mar 9, 2019, 06:09 IST
Representative imagePUNE: The new parking regulation requiring commercial vehicles to pay Rs50 for entering the airport has put inbound flyers in a spot as cab drivers are refusing to enter the facility to avoid paying the fee.
The only option for the flyers reaching the city is to walk all the way outside the airport to board a cab. In some cases, the cab drivers entering the airport premises have asked the passengers to fork out the amount.
With most passengers unaware of the new regulation, it has only added to chaos and confusion and heated exchanges with drivers. The new regulation came into effect from March 5 midnight.
One of the main reasons for the unwillingness of the cab drivers to enter the airport is the three-minute dwell time within which they have to get in and out of the airport with the passengers. Failure to do so would result in a penalty of Rs340. This has prompted many cab drivers to ask passengers to board the cabs from parking no. 2, the new designated spot for cab aggregators Ola and Uber.
Samar John, who arrived from Goa on a SpiceJet flight with his family on Wednesday, said, “There was an argument with our Ola cab driver, as one of the parking agents stopped the cars right in front of the exit gate. The cab driver said he had no clue about the arrangement.”
Kaustav and his friend were in for a shock after coming out of the arrival area. “On hearing that he will have to pay Rs 340, our cab driver cancelled the ride,” Kaustav told TOI, while coming out of the vehicle and moving out of the airport to get another cab .
A cab driver told TOI: “Why are we being asked to pay Rs50? Does it make sense to slap us with a fine of Rs 340 if we cannot get out of the airport within three minutes?”
Those arriving on wheelchairs are inconvenienced the most since they are being dropped by the airline ground staff till the exit gate, from where their attendants have to take them to parking no.2.
Officials said the flyers would eventually have to board the cabs from parking number 2 once it is fully operational. “The main aim is to reduce congestion,” an official said.
Dhairyashil Vandekar, aviation expert and analyst, said, the decision was ill timed and likely to prove counterproductive and more customer-friendly efforts need to be taken by the airport authorities to tackle the congestion around the airport.
The only option for the flyers reaching the city is to walk all the way outside the airport to board a cab. In some cases, the cab drivers entering the airport premises have asked the passengers to fork out the amount.
With most passengers unaware of the new regulation, it has only added to chaos and confusion and heated exchanges with drivers. The new regulation came into effect from March 5 midnight.
One of the main reasons for the unwillingness of the cab drivers to enter the airport is the three-minute dwell time within which they have to get in and out of the airport with the passengers. Failure to do so would result in a penalty of Rs340. This has prompted many cab drivers to ask passengers to board the cabs from parking no. 2, the new designated spot for cab aggregators Ola and Uber.
Samar John, who arrived from Goa on a SpiceJet flight with his family on Wednesday, said, “There was an argument with our Ola cab driver, as one of the parking agents stopped the cars right in front of the exit gate. The cab driver said he had no clue about the arrangement.”
Kaustav and his friend were in for a shock after coming out of the arrival area. “On hearing that he will have to pay Rs 340, our cab driver cancelled the ride,” Kaustav told TOI, while coming out of the vehicle and moving out of the airport to get another cab .
A cab driver told TOI: “Why are we being asked to pay Rs50? Does it make sense to slap us with a fine of Rs 340 if we cannot get out of the airport within three minutes?”
Those arriving on wheelchairs are inconvenienced the most since they are being dropped by the airline ground staff till the exit gate, from where their attendants have to take them to parking no.2.
Officials said the flyers would eventually have to board the cabs from parking number 2 once it is fully operational. “The main aim is to reduce congestion,” an official said.
Dhairyashil Vandekar, aviation expert and analyst, said, the decision was ill timed and likely to prove counterproductive and more customer-friendly efforts need to be taken by the airport authorities to tackle the congestion around the airport.
more from times of india Cities
LATEST VIDEOS
City
On cam: Taxi driver saves life of a passenger from coming under the wheels of train in Agra00:53- Miraculous escape for Golden Baba as SUV collides with divider on Yamuna Expressway01:13
- Chennai: 70-year-old operates wooden raft across Adyar for Rs 2 to make ends meet01:22
- Pune: Tiny 2-month-old leopard cub found by villagers, reunited with its mother02:03
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE