When and exhausted Nipurn Dholakia along with his wife and children landed at Ahmedabad airport, he was not expecting to be fleeced by taxi drivers. The 37-year-old ended up paying double the cab fare due to lack of prepaid taxis at the airport. This is an experience shared by many at the city airport over the past six months. The Airport Authority of India had shut down the pre-paid taxi service at the airport in May after receiving complaints that drivers belonging to the Ahmedabad Pre-paid Taxi Drivers Association were charging passengers more than approved fare.
Since then, AAI has been unable to get the service back on track at the airport, inconveniencing passengers. "I always use radio cabs when I have to get from the airport to home/ office. I call them half an hour in advance so that when I exit the terminal they are waiting at the gate for me. If I got a taxi from the airport, I would have to pay through my nose. Who wants the hassle after flying for long hours?" asked Minku Gandhi, 45 who owns a manufacturing business. Arjav Parikh, a 20-year-old student who travels frequently for his ITrelated work, says, "I prefer radio cabs as it is convenient. It saves me from being at the mercy of taxi drivers at the airport."
Chandu Gohil, president of Ahmedabad Airport Taxi Owners' Association, said, "I do not go to the airport but taxis from our association do ply at the airport." When asked about taxi drivers overcharging passengers, he refused to comment on the issue. However, a taxi operator refusing to be named, said: "AAI set up a prepaid taxi counter in April. According to the tender, the taxi owners' association was supposed to pay Rs 444 for each trip. As the rates were too high, the drivers began showing fake rate cards and charged customers more. They would refuse to hand over receipts."
05/12/15 Alok Brahmbhatt/Ahmedabad Mirror
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Since then, AAI has been unable to get the service back on track at the airport, inconveniencing passengers. "I always use radio cabs when I have to get from the airport to home/ office. I call them half an hour in advance so that when I exit the terminal they are waiting at the gate for me. If I got a taxi from the airport, I would have to pay through my nose. Who wants the hassle after flying for long hours?" asked Minku Gandhi, 45 who owns a manufacturing business. Arjav Parikh, a 20-year-old student who travels frequently for his ITrelated work, says, "I prefer radio cabs as it is convenient. It saves me from being at the mercy of taxi drivers at the airport."
Chandu Gohil, president of Ahmedabad Airport Taxi Owners' Association, said, "I do not go to the airport but taxis from our association do ply at the airport." When asked about taxi drivers overcharging passengers, he refused to comment on the issue. However, a taxi operator refusing to be named, said: "AAI set up a prepaid taxi counter in April. According to the tender, the taxi owners' association was supposed to pay Rs 444 for each trip. As the rates were too high, the drivers began showing fake rate cards and charged customers more. They would refuse to hand over receipts."
05/12/15 Alok Brahmbhatt/Ahmedabad Mirror
