Rs 60 fee to be charged on Taxis for entering airport

CHENNAI: Dial taxis and other operators can be expected to charge passengers a fee of Rs 60 they will have to pay to enter the airport.

Fetching a cab to Chennai airport is set to cost more in a month as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to charge Rs 60 as entry fee for commercial vehicles. Entry for private cars will be free. Parking rates have been slashed too.This was issued after it was found that because of the 10 minutes free time cabs kept going in and out and languishing at different places on the airport campus waiting for customers.Airport director G Chandramouli said at a press conference on Friday that the new system would be place in a month when a new contract was awarded for the work.

"The access fee is kept higher as per the new parking policy to encourage vehicles to park. If they are found to create congestion some action would be taken. A challan will be issued and wheel jammers will be used. If the vehicle is found to obstruct the flow of cars, it will also be towed away," he added. Speaking about the new parking rates, for the first 30 minutes, Chennai airport will charge Rs 50 for coaches or buses, Rs 40 for cars and Rs 20 for two wheelers. For the next 120 minutes, the rates will be Rs 110 for coaches, buses and SUVs, Rs 100 for cars, and Rs 25 for two wheelers.

AAI will also start constructing two multilevel car parking for housing of 2,000 cars. The terminal can withstand 400 passengers at a time and will have 22 check-in counters and additional immigration sections and boarding gates. A Puja was held on Friday for the project. Chandramouli said that the unused international arrival terminal would be opened for departures - international and domestic - by October-end. There will be four baggage scanners.The AAI would by building a new level terminal in 42 months.