PANJIM: Local taxi drivers on Saturday expressed unhappiness as taxis or commercial vehicles will have to pay more parking fees if they visit Mopa international airport to pick tourists or anybody else.
They will have to shell out Rs 200 for 0-5 minutes of stay. Earlier, the tariff was Rs 50 per taxi. This has irked the taxi operators at the Mopa airport. A taxi driver said that by the time a tourist comes out of the vehicle and takes out the luggage, it takes five minutes.
“Earlier, the parking tariff was Rs 50 but now it has been increased to Rs 200. From Saturday, we have to pay a minimum of Rs 200 for the 0-5 minutes of stay. We demand that taxis from Pernem be given some concession in the parking charges,'' he said.
Another taxi driver said if the parking tariff has been increased, it will mean that passengers would have to pay more for a ride as it cannot be borne by the taxi operator.
“Question is why the government is allowing this to happen?” he asked.
According to the rate chart displayed at the airport, for private vehicles arrival premium pick up tariff is as follows: free for 0-5 minutes, Rs 50 for 5-10 minutes and Rs 500 for more than 10 minutes. For commercial vehicles, the tariff charge is Rs 200 for 0-5 minutes and Rs 500 for 5-10 minutes. For buses or coaches, the tariff is Rs 1,000 for every 30 minutes.
The GMR Goa International Airport Ltd officials were not available for comment but sources said that the hike is for the premium parking places.