Collector K. Bhaskar has sought that taxi aggregators be allowed into Visakhapatnam international airport for picking up passengers in view of the difficulties being faced by people as some of the taxis were being stopped outside the toll booth.

In response to an article appeared in these columns: “Passengers fume as city airport turns no-go zone for taxi aggregators” on January 28, the Collector sought a clarification from the airport authorities on the issue.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI), Visakhapatnam Airport, had invited tenders for allowing cab aggregators for pick-up and drop from convenient places. Both Ola and Uber had not participated in the it, initially. Subsequently, when the tender opening date was extended, M/s ANI Technologies, which is operating Ola cabs, was the sole participant.

The AAI authorities clarified that Ola was allowed to drop and pick up passengers from the designated areas with effect from December 7 and Uber cabs were permitted to drop passengers inside the airport from the same date.

However, the pick-up point for Uber was located after the toll booth, near to the NH-16 as M/s Uber had not participated in the bid.

Permissible limit

They also clarified that the allegation of the drivers that they were being levied ₹55 for picking up passengers even if they came out of the airport within the permissible time of 10 minutes, was not true. The authorities clarified that the charges were being levied only after the permissible time had elapsed.