Flyers face harrowing time as cab drivers block airport entry gate

Flyers had a harrowing time at NSC Bose International Airport on Monday morning following a blockade put up by cab drivers at the entry gate in front of the toll booth, after a cab driver was allegedly abused and beaten up for refusing to pay parking fee.

Trouble began after the cab driver, who was driving out on dropping passengers to the departure terminal, was asked to pay parking fee by the private toll collection staff, although he had taken only about 10 minutes in the process.

According to the latest rule put in place by the airport management, no parking fee can be charged up to 10 minutes while dropping passengers to the terminal. 

Parking fee is collected in case of every pick up from the airport irrespective of how long a particular cab was inside.

Thus a verbal dual ensued when the driver was asked to pay Rs 100 but he declined. The staff managing the parking lot allegedly started abusing the driver, and the driver was allegedly hit by the former.

The cab driver called up the taxi union for help and soon, several taxi drivers reached the spot. Even drivers of app-based cab services such as Ola and Uber also joined in the protest.

The protesting drivers vandalised the toll booth and put up a road blockade at the site, which lasted for nearly two hours.

The blockage left passengers in a soup and led to a traffic congestion that stretched up to the VIP Road. Many flyers were seen getting off much ahead of the terminal and dragging their luggage up the steep ramp to reach the airport departure level.

Finally, police brought the situation under control around 8 am and the blockade was lifted on assurances of action against the accused private toll collection staff.