NEW DELHI: Taking a taxi to or from the Indira Gandhi International Airport may now burn a hole in your pocket with the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) planning to impose an entry fee of Rs 150 on every commercial vehicle, including taxis, entering the T3 arrival terminal from October 20. DIAL says the step has been taken to ensure passenger safety and to curb touts at the airport.
Besides paying the new fee, commercial vehicles are also likely to be towed away or have their tyres clamped if they exceed the time limit of eight minutes they will be allowed at the terminal, DIAL said.
Under the current conditions, he arrival area remains congested with all sorts of commercial vehicles driving in and causing raffic confusion, said DIAL. It added that the main objective in imposing the new fee was to curb he presence of touts who tarnish he image of the airport.
However, Mega Cabs, Meru Cabs and the black-yellow taxis have been exempted from paying he entry fee because, DIAL explained, these taxis occupied lane one and two at Terminal 3, while other commercial vehicles used the third lane. Congestion in the third lane caused traffic jams and slowed the movement at the airport. This then turned into a security concern, officials said.
"DIAL has proposed to regu late and decongest the forecourt area to prevent unauthorized parking for long periods which is causing inconvenience to passengers and users at large. The said charge is not a parking charge but deterrence for unauthorised parking. Such practice is prevalent in many airports across India and globally . This step is will also prevent touting activities around the passenger area and will thus enhance the passenger's safety ," said a DIAL spokesperson.
Vehicles entering the 1D domestic terminal have also been exempted for the time being but may soon have to pay the entry fee. According to DIAL, there is construction going on in a large area there for the expansion of the Delhi Metro station.Since this may lead to clogging at the terminal, vehicles at 1D are presently exempted from the new rule.
The airport company also clarified that no charge will be levied on private vehicles for entering the airport.
Besides paying the new fee, commercial vehicles are also likely to be towed away or have their tyres clamped if they exceed the time limit of eight minutes they will be allowed at the terminal, DIAL said.
Under the current conditions, he arrival area remains congested with all sorts of commercial vehicles driving in and causing raffic confusion, said DIAL. It added that the main objective in imposing the new fee was to curb he presence of touts who tarnish he image of the airport.
However, Mega Cabs, Meru Cabs and the black-yellow taxis have been exempted from paying he entry fee because, DIAL explained, these taxis occupied lane one and two at Terminal 3, while other commercial vehicles used the third lane. Congestion in the third lane caused traffic jams and slowed the movement at the airport. This then turned into a security concern, officials said.
"DIAL has proposed to regu late and decongest the forecourt area to prevent unauthorized parking for long periods which is causing inconvenience to passengers and users at large. The said charge is not a parking charge but deterrence for unauthorised parking. Such practice is prevalent in many airports across India and globally . This step is will also prevent touting activities around the passenger area and will thus enhance the passenger's safety ," said a DIAL spokesperson.
Vehicles entering the 1D domestic terminal have also been exempted for the time being but may soon have to pay the entry fee. According to DIAL, there is construction going on in a large area there for the expansion of the Delhi Metro station.Since this may lead to clogging at the terminal, vehicles at 1D are presently exempted from the new rule.
The airport company also clarified that no charge will be levied on private vehicles for entering the airport.
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