Prepaid airport taxis heavy on wallets

Prepaid airport taxis heavy on wallets
Vijay Times

Bangalore: What began as a government initiative to prevent incoming air passengers from being taken for a ride by private taxis has itself become an officially-sanctioned exercise in extortion, going by the increasing number of complaints.

The prepaid taxi counter of the Karnataka State T ourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) at Bangalore airport has gained notoriety for charging exorbitant fares, in the process violating the transport department’s guidelines.

Passengers have complained that a ride in a KSTDC prepaid taxi from the airport to Vidhana Soudha costs about Rs 210 as against Rs 110 charged by a private taxi.

"Passengers emerging from the arrival lounges and in a hurry to reach their destinations in the City are unaware that they are being taken for a ride," said City bus nessman Ramakanth Sahay . Moreover, passengers are do not suspect any ’hankypankty’ as the counter displays the logo of a government agency .

Several complaints to the authorities concerned have been made but nothing has been done so far , according to one commuter . Despite a gazette notification of the transport department prescribing distance-wise fares, the KSTDC counter has its own tariff structure, making a mockery of the rules. In addition, the corporation hires luxury tourist cabs which do not have valid permits to ply as City taxis.

For their part, KSTDC-registered cabs have to shell out 35 per cent of the tota fare as a service charge at the counter against the five per cent prescribed by the transport department, according to an aggrieved taxi driver .

There are around 67 private taxis operating from the airport under the banner of the Bangalore Airport T axi U nion, which were barred from entering the airport premises after the KSTDC counter was opened.

"W e follow transport department-prescribed fares which are lower than the KSTDC rates; even then we are not allowed to operate from the airport. W e had been promised a counter by the airport authorities, but instead of doing so they have barred us from entering," said a taxi driver , adding that taxi drivers have to pay a parking fee of Rs 50 if they enter the premises.

T ransport department officials confirmed that the fares charged by the KSTDC counter are in violation of the rules laid down by it. T ransport Commissioner Om Prakash said the department has corresponded with the KSTDC in this regard, but has not received a response so far .

However , according to KSTDC managing director Y ogendra T ripathy , the cabs plying from the counter are not normal taxis but tourist taxis, which have better standards. The corporation insists on certain quality standards and even has to pay royalty to the Airport Authority; hence the higher fares, he explained.