Panaji: Only cabs picking travellers from airport must pay Rs 50

PANAJI: Clarifying its stand on the new policy for vehicular movement, Goa International Airport on Thursday said the Rs 50 fee is levied only on commercial vehicles and taxis picking up passengers. Commercial vehicles and taxis dropping off passengers at the airport will not be charged.
Goa Airport director Gagan Malik said the new policy for vehicular movement in the arrival and departure concourse is applicable at all international airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
“These guidelines and rules are part of a pan-India exercise at all AAI-managed airports with the objective of providing better facilities and making the airport experience more passenger friendly on a continuous basis with significantly reduced drop and pick-up time,” Malik said.
The new policy, which came into effect this April, aims to streamline the movement of vehicles in the airport area and facilitate the smooth entry and exit of passengers from airports, he said. All vehicles arriving at the terminal building are allowed 10 minutes to drop passengers.
Under the earlier policy, private vehicles were allowed just five minutes while taxis would remain parked in the area without paying a fee.
“No charges whatsoever will be applicable to private vehicles entering the terminal building forecourt — either to drop or pick passengers — and exiting within 10 minutes,” Malik said.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco had accused AAI of running a “money-making racket” by charging private and commercial vehicles entering the Dabolim airport to collect relatives and passengers.