Visitors, cab drivers irked over overcharging at airport parking

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 18

Overcharging at the parking of Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport has irked visitors and cab drivers who regularly come here to pick and drop passengers. Though, the airport authorities had assured to start collecting parking fee through FASTag to stop overcharging, the decision is yet to implemented.

On August 15, Manjinder Singh, a passenger, claimed that parking lot workers at the Amritsar airport charged Rs 60 from him for staying there less than 30 minutes instead of

Rs 20. The parking lot workers did not issue a slip to him on his entry. On exit, when the slip was issued to Manjinder there was no time or registration number of the vehicle mentioned on it.

Sameep Singh, convener, FlyAmritsar Initiative, has raised the issue with the airport director and also requested local MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who is the chairman of the airport advisory committee, to look into the matter and take appropriate action in this regard.

Recently, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori spoke about expansion of the airport, but the administration remained silent on the issue despite it being highlighted several times.

Sameep Singh said, “Due to this loot at the parking lot, many residents write to FlyAmritsar Initiative, Amritsar Vikas Manch or post their grievances on the social media about overcharging and harassment by porters and helpers at the airport. Residents say they don’t like to board flights from the Amritsar airport.”

He further said, “The authorities concerned have completely failed to check overcharging at the airport parking. Few months ago, former airport director VK Seth had said they had found parking contractor guilty of overcharging and fined find him several times. He had said FASTag will be activated for collecting parking fee before the arrival of summer season.”

“A simple solution is starting the FASTag. The issue of overcharging has been discussed with the airport authorities, but the parking contractor continues to fleece visitors,” said Yogesh Kamra, an activist.