Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb. 11: Several passengers at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, have raised concerns over unauthorized ‘Premium Parking’ charges, with reports of travellers being overcharged by the parking contractor in violation of airport regulations.
A recent complaint, filed on December 18, 2024, highlights how a passenger was illegally charged for premium parking fees for his Maruti Swift (2020 model). In response to an RTI inquiry the Airports Authority of India (AAI) clarified that no such classification of premium and non-premium cars exists for parking at the VSI airport. Despite this, the contractor allegedly continued collecting additional charges.
Following a complaint, the Airport Director confirmed that an investigation was conducted, and the parking licensee was found guilty of overcharging. As a result, a penalty of ₹10,000 was imposed on the contractor. The airport authorities also urged passengers to report such incidents promptly for necessary action.
Shockingly, just weeks after the penalty, another traveller was allegedly charged illegally on February 5. When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Commercial Head of AAI, he admitted that while there is a provision for priority parking, the specific area for such parking has not been designated yet. Hence, for now, priority parking charges remain suspended.
The issue has left many islanders frustrated, as unsuspecting travellers continue to fall victim to the contractor’s misleading charges. “Passengers are advised to insist on official receipts, verify charges, and immediately report any overcharging to the airport authorities for strict action against violators,” officials said.
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