Passengers at airport taken for a ride

Chennai: A family of four who were standing outside the arrival gate of the domestic terminal, Chennai Airport, with a trolley full of luggage, looked harried. Travelling for the first time by flight, this family from Kolkata wanted to get to T. Nagar without burning a hole in their pocket. While one taxi operator asked for a flat rate of Rs. 500, another said he would charge them Rs. 100 less than the fare demanded by the first operator. The family finally settled for the operator who offered them a ride for Rs. 330. With each operator charging different rates, some with booking counters inside the terminals and no comprehensive system in place, it is harder than it seems for a traveller to get a fair deal.
The airport has three taxi services functioning from its premises — Chennai Airport Prepaid Taxi Owners-Drivers Association, Fast Track Pvt. Ltd and Aviation Express. Getting to Adyar from the airport will cost you Rs. 600 by Aviation Express; Rs. 450 by Fast Track and Rs.300 or Rs.400 by the black and yellow taxis operated by the Association, depending on whether one chooses an A/C or a non-A/C car.
Rates are fixed depending on the area, not on the distance.
17/05/12 Asha Sridhar/The Hindu

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Categories: airports May 2012