Many fliers using Calcutta airport allege that they are facing inconvenience because of the parking rule implemented by the authorities that allows a vehicle to stop for only three minutes in front of the terminal building.

Airport sources said in the last couple of weeks, after the new agency has been given the contract to operate vehicle parking, at least five passengers on an average every day would come to the terminal manager’s office complaining that they were wrongly slapped fine of Rs 400.

Signboards that read “Fine Rs 400 beyond three minutes dwell time and seven minutes running time” have been put up along the driveways on the airport premises. “Dwell time” refers to how long a vehicle can remain in front of the terminal building without paying any fee and “running time” denotes the time taken to travel to and from the terminal.

“This new parking rule is creating a practical problem for passengers. Many passengers are coming to us and alleging that the three-minute dwelling time is too little as it often takes more than that to load or unload luggage in a vehicle. Those needing wheelchair are also facing a big problem,” said an airport official.

The new agency, Mahesh Sunny Enterprises, has deployed marshals who are checking tokens given to vehicles by the contractor’s staff while entering the premises of the airport. If a vehicle is seen to be dwelling more than three minutes is slapped a fine of Rs 400.

Two-wheelers parked outside the airport next to a sign that reads “Fine Rs 400 beyond three minutes dwell time & seven minutes running time” on Friday. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Metro had earlier reported how VIP cars, belonging ton government, other government agencies and MPs and MLAs stand much beyond the dwell time and no action is taken. On Thursday, a parking marshal and the general manager of the agency were arrested by police after the marshal had clamped a car that belonged to the Myanmar consulate in Calcutta.

On Friday, the marshals were not seen in front of the terminal building and VIP cars were parked as usual.

But common passengers are slapped fines for dwelling for more than three minutes.

“We have slapped fines on about 150 vehicles in front of the terminal building since beginning of August. The three-minute dwelling time rule has been made by the Airports Authority of India. We are merely implementing it,” said Babulal Yadav, general manager of Mahesh Sunny Enterprises.

Several passengers alleged that people needing wheelchair at the departure level of the terminal, need more than three minutes for the car to be parked in front of the building.

There are counters at every gate at the departure level where there are phones with numbers of airlines. Those accompanying a passenger needing wheelchair have to walk to the counter and then call the airline number. Often there are allegations that some of the airline staff do not pick up the phone. Then there is a delay in getting the wheelchair.

Also, passengers with several pieces of luggage take time to put those on the car after arriving or in case of someone taking a flight offloading luggage. At Bangalore airport there is no system of fines, said an official.

“We have our security staff who manage traffic. They ensure that a car is not standing unnecessarily in front of the terminal,” said an official of the private-run airport.

At the government-run Chennai airport too, officials said there were no such rules.

“We ensure there is no congestion. But we don’t slap fines if a car is standing for the time taken by passengers to get down or get into the vehicle,” said an official of Chennai airport. A Calcutta airport official said passengers should park their cars at the parking lot.

“They can call the airline and wheelchair can be sent. There is a pathway for wheelchairs,” said the official.

But passengers allege that it would take longer time for the wheelchairs to arrive at the parking lot. Also, since the departure area is on the upper level, passengers have to take the elevators. But Calcutta airport’s elevators are small and can barely accommodate two passengers with trolleys.