the goan I network
VASCO
Locals from Vasco have taken to social media to hit out at the Dabolim Airport contractor while claiming that the clocks logging entry and exit of vehicles to and from the airport are rigged to loot visitors.
Every vehicle entering Dabolim Airport is given a token at the entry gate with the time of entry logged on the slip. The vehicle driver must return the slip to the staff manning the exit gate while leaving from the airport. The time allotted to each vehicle is 5 minutes and any vehicle that exceeds the designated 5-minutes time is charged Rs 100.
Taking to Facebook, several people have however alleged that the timing on the clock at both the gates are not the same and hence the contractor at the airport is involved in cheating people. They have even demanded an enquiry by the Airport Authority of India.
In one such incident, a local Jairam Gauns took to social media to recall his experience and how he was vigilant enough to catch the erring contractor. Several locals then began reacting to his post citing how they too have had similar experiences.
“I went to drop my sister off at Goa airport and happened to keep note of my time of entry as well as what was written on the slip at the entry gate. After dropping my sister, I reached the exit gate within 3 minutes. The contractor however stopped me at the exit and said I had crossed 7 minutes. After having an argument with him, I decided to re-enter the airport just to verify. The second time around, I went and checked the time where the ticket was issued only to find that it was 4 minutes behind the clock at the exit gate giving vehicles just one minute to enter and exit, instead of the designated 5 minutes. When I pointed this out, they corrected the time. However, this looks very suspicious and could be a scam to loot innocent people. Hence, I would advise people to please check the time on the ticket issued with the time on your watch so as to save yourself from giving away Rs 100 to the airport contractor,” Gauns posted. It may be recalled that in a similar incident, another youth had also taken to social media after filming how he had been given a slip with a different vehicle number.
Subsequent to reports of such incidents, Airport Director Gagan Malik in April had said that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) would be dropping off charges for private vehicles entering the airport to drop and pick passengers.
“Charges will however continue to be applicable for commercial vehicles arriving and leaving the airport. Separate lanes for commercial and private vehicles are also on the cards and the multi level car parking (MLCP) facility is also like to be operational from July. We have decided that there will be no entry charges for private vehicles entering the airport and and they will be give sufficient time of around 7.5 minutes to pick or drop passengers and as such the issue of clash between car parking contractor and general public will be obliterated and there will be no scope of any confrontation between them,” Malik had said while stating that commercial vehicles will continue to be charged a pre-defined fee.
