Parking crisis at Dabolim airport

VASCO: Disappointed by the lack of parking facilities at Dabolim airport, and other pending demands, the United Taximen Union (UTU), has threatened to shut their operations at Dabolim airport, if the Airports Authority of India (AAI) fails to provide a proper parking lot and an independent counter at the new integrated terminal building.

UTU president Sudhakar Revankar said they find it difficult to get parking place for their vehicles and AAI has stopped them from parking their taxis outside the integrated terminal building. 

“Our major worry is parking as AAI failed to provide us parking place and is not making any efforts to resolve this. We had demanded that AAI provide us place either in the multilevel parking building or make provisions to park our vehicles in front of the building. This was rejected citing security issues. Our demand for an independent counter at the integrated terminal building is yet to see the light of day. As they have been neglecting all our issues, we are now forced to take some drastic steps which might be even shutting down our operations,” Revankar said.

A site inspection on Friday to find a solution was attended by Airport Director K Srinivasa Rao and others. Speaking to Herald, Rao said that due to pending security clearance the multilevel car parking cannot be used. 

“I understand their difficulty, however, I have no option and whatever options were available I have suggested to them. After the site inspection, I gave them two options, firstly they can use the available parking place at the old terminal building, secondly there is a piece of land opposite the old building and the same is given to a parking contractor who collects parking fees and taxi men can bargain with the contractor seeking reduction on parking fees. I will not interfere as it is between the contractor and taxi men,” he said. He added, “I have decided to take up this issue with MP Narendra Sawaikar to find a solution.”