Ahmedabad Airport Prepaid taxi service terminated for cheating, overcharging

Ahmedabad

The Airport Authority of India(AAI) has terminated contract with Amdavad Airport Taxi Owners Association(AATOA) after receiving complains from number of passengers on cheating, overcharging, dishonesty and misleading practices. Taxi service was found flouting norms and was not following the approved rates.

AAI asked the prepaid taxi service to vacate the space at airport after termination of contract following as many as 15 complains regarding overcharging received in last three weeks.

AAI had first issued showcause notice which was not replied convincingly. Prepaid taxis were found charging Rs 200-300 extra per trip. They were also misguiding passengers by showing fake rate chart.

Airport contractor was showing just 100 daily trip in order to evade service tax, while earlier average was 200 trips.

The contract terminated on Friday was awarded on 31st March for two years period. Procedure for awarding new contract will be started soon, according to AAI officials.

Author’s note:

Worldover, airport prepaid taxi is considered honest, trustworthy, no-nuisance and dependable, but Ahmedabad airport was a unique case where even prepaid taxi service was full of dishonest practices and cheating. As soon as you land at Sardar Patel airport and step outside the terminal, number of rickshaw drivers gherao you, come close to you and offer their service. They are all crooks, who treat you like ‘bali ka bakra’ and cheat you. Another option is pre-paid taxi, about which enough narration has been given in this article. The only dependable option remains is radio taxi service. At least they function well. No wonder, more and more people are giving preference to radio taxis/cabs. It is shameful that a basic facility like prepaid taxi couldn’t function fairly at Ahmedabad airport. In the past, attempts like G-Auto have been failed due to goons from nearby Sindhi community dominated Sardarnagar area. A good connectivity from airport to desired destination in city is basic need of passengers. Ahmedabad has no luxury like T3 Delhi to catch Metro train right from the airport terminal. At least honest rickshaw, bus, taxi service should be there with strict and dedicated police and AAI monitoring and cruel penalties for offenders.