Passengers Face Arbitrary Parking Fees at Patna Airport

Patna: Passengers at Patna airport are expressing frustration over alleged arbitrary parking charges imposed by parking staff. Despite official orders stating that no parking fees should be charged for pick-and-drop services within three minutes, staff are reportedly demanding Rs. 20 from vehicles even if they halt for just a minute. This practice is affecting thousands of passengers daily, prompting complaints from travellers and their families.

The airport administration has mandated that the express lane allows free pick-and-drop for three minutes, and no charges apply for up to seven minutes from entry to exit. However, passengers report that Rs. 20 is being collected as soon as vehicles enter the pick-and-drop zone. “When the administration has clearly ordered that no fee be charged for three minutes, why is this happening?” questioned one passenger.

Parking contractor Ramsundar Prasad Singh confirmed that Rs. 20 is applicable only in the parking lane, not in the express lane. “If any parking attendant is found violating the rules, we will investigate the matter,” he assured.

The situation is further exacerbated by traffic congestion at the airport’s entry and exit gates. Autos parked near the entry gate contribute to the bottleneck, causing delays for passengers. The lack of proper parking arrangements and the conduct of parking attendants have resulted in long queues of vehicles, leaving many frustrated and stuck in jams.