Visitors arriving in their own vehicles to pick up their loved ones at Terminal 2 (T2) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) are being charged parking fees ranging between Rs 150 (general) and Rs 250 (premium) for a minimum period of 30 minutes, while parking for eight to 24 hours can set you back by Rs 1000.
Many have slammed this system, claiming they have been made to fork out money despite spending less than 10 minutes at the airport. Several passengers also pointed out that the Ahmedabad airport, which is run by the same operator as the Mumbai one, has a free pickup and drop facility for private vehicles lasting 10 and 12 minutes for domestic and international flights, respectively, and Mumbai should adopt a similar arrangement.
Purshotam Jagwani
At Terminal 1 of the airport, parking for under five minutes is free for visitors. Purshotam Jagwani, who was waiting for his brother at Gate C in the arrival section of T2, stated that there should be some form of free parking, at least for a few minutes, but added, “We can’t help it; they make the rules, and one person complaining won’t change anything. So, we comply, pay, and stand here waiting for our relatives to come, so we can pick them up and leave.”
Sandeep Bhosle, who was waiting for his friend at the same gate, said, “Many airports have a free pickup system, but Mumbai airport, mysteriously, does not. We understand that it’s business, but this really burns a hole in our pockets.”
Central Industrial Security Force personnel check passengers’ identity cards and tickets at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, in Andheri, on September 5. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
“I have stopped getting my own vehicle or asking family members to pick me up from the airport. I live in Thane, and for them to come all the way here just for a few minutes doesn’t make sense, especially with the parking fees,” said Karan Jadhav, who was heading to the auto stand after getting out of the airport. “Mumbai airport, especially T2, sees a heavy footfall, which might make one think that the airport operator might want to arrange parking so that there is no congestion. But with no other way but to enter the paid parking zone to pick up people, the whole zone becomes heavily congested. When you think about it, it is a business that they have to run, so we chose the next best option: either autos or taxi services,” he added.
Concerns raised
The operator of the X account @RoadsOfMumbai, on September 3, posted about their experience of having to pay R160 just to enter and exit the airport while picking up their parents, pointing out how they “did not park the car at all.”
Karan Jadhav, passenger who was heading to auto stand. Pic/Madhulika Ram Kavattur
In conversation with mid-day, the account holder said, on the condition of anonymity, that in recent months, he spent around R320 during two pickups. Asked why the pickups were not arranged to take place outside airport premises to avoid the fees, he said, “This strategy is not practical when you have to pick up relatives who are senior citizens or someone who has lots of luggage.”
He added, “Previously, before the construction of the Metro started, there was an option where people could pick up their loved ones next to the city bus stop/auto stand on the ground floor. However, CSMIA has blocked entry of private cars into that lane, forcing all to enter the paid parking zone.”
Congestion woes
Speaking about the congested nature of the airport’s parking system, he said, “The only way to decongest it is to extend a pickup facility to cars from a point where the cars don’t need to enter the paid parking zone only for pickups. I can understand charging vehicle owners wishing to park their cars on airport premises for more than 15 minutes. Because of such high parking charges, many people and cab drivers avoid parking their cars inside the airport. Instead, they park on the Western Express Highway just before the CSMIA elevated road, and the road outside the Lalit Mumbai hotel is blocked due to double parking for the same reason, leading to congestion.”
mid-day sent queries to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) regarding parking prices and lack of free pickup time slots, but did not receive a reply by press time. However, additional information received by this paper suggests that the airport operator is considering reevaluating how to make a free pickup spot available for visitors. It is said to be trying to find a location close to the airport, but also ensures passengers leaving and arriving do not have to deal with touts who are usually found near the exit of the airport premises.
