Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 3: Commercial cab operators at Mangaluru International Airport will now have to pay revised access charges, including a new Rs 50 fee for passenger drop-offs and an increase in the pick-up charge from Rs 180 to Rs 200.

The revised tariff came into effect on October 1 and applies only to commercial vehicles. Private vehicles are exempt from the new access charges, according to an airport official.

Under the new tariff, commercial four-wheelers dropping off passengers will be charged Rs 50 if they leave the airport within eight minutes. The amount will ultimately be passed on to passengers and will not be borne by cab operators, the official said.

The airport operator said access charges for commercial vehicles are a standard practice at airports and are used to support the management and maintenance of landside facilities. These include expenses related to security, electricity, infrastructure maintenance, traffic management, personnel, sanitation and other amenities for drivers and visitors.

For commercial four-wheelers, the charges have been fixed at Rs 200 for stays of up to 30 minutes, Rs 300 for 30 minutes to one hour, Rs 400 for one to two hours, Rs 500 for two to three hours, Rs 600 for three to four hours and Rs 1,200 for stays between four and 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the free access period for private vehicles has been reduced from 10 minutes to eight minutes.