Prepaid taxi service at Chandigarh international airport to check fleecing

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 3

Concerned over passengers being fleeced by cab drivers at the Chandigarh international airport here, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the starting of a prepaid taxi service for the convenience of passengers.

The fares range from Rs450 to Rs1,200 depending on the distance and the seating capacity of the taxi.

Ajay Bhardwaj, Chief Executive Officer, Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL), said as per the letter received from the Secretary, RTA, up to a distance of 10 km, the fare of a non-AC taxi (five-seater) would be Rs450 and for an AC car Rs700. For a seven-seater non-AC and AC car, the fare would be Rs800 and Rs900, respectively, for a distance not more than 10 km. Similarly, the fare for a distance from 11 to 20 km would be Rs600 and Rs700 for a five-seater non-AC and AC taxi, respectively, while for a seven-seater non-AC and AC vehicle, it would be Rs800 and Rs900, respectively. For a distance of 21 to 25 km, the fare would be Rs700 and Rs800 for a five-seater non-AC and AC car, and Rs1,000 and Rs1,100 for a seven-seater non-AC and AC vehicle, respectively. For a distance of 26 to 30 km, the fare would be Rs800, Rs900 for a five-seater non-AC and AC car, respectively, while for a seven-seater non-AC and AC vehicle, it would be Rs1,100 and Rs1,200, respectively.

Bhardwaj said CHIAL had also decided to slash the penalty for parking over 10 minutes near the no-parking zone at the arrival and departure lounges. He said up to 10 minutes, there would be no charge for parking, but the penalty would be Rs170 for a car and Rs200 for an SUV parked for 11 to 20 minutes. Earlier, the penalty of Rs340 and Rs400 was imposed in case of cars and SUVs, respectively, parked beyond 10 minutes.

He said a penalty of Rs500 would be charged if a vehicle was found parked beyond 21 minutes, as per the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019, Punjab. Vehicles found in the no-parking zone without the driver would be towed away, he said.

Bhardwaj said there was no change in the parking fee

A fee of Rs30 is charged for cars and SUVs parked up to 30 minutes. Thereafter, Rs 85 and Rs100 are charged from car and SUV drivers, respectively.