KOLKATA: Taxi touts are back to hang-out unsuspecting passengers arriving at Kolkata airport. Posing as assistants to lend a hand passengers with baggage trolleys, the lads who had disappeared in April after a police crackdown are back in full strength to fleece passengers, charging twice to 4 times the regular fare for a trip into the city.
“Around 60-70 touts grasp across the terminal development, maximum of them close to the exits to the home phase and close to the ATMs outdoor the parking zone right through the day. At evening, the job shifts to the world wing. We have gained several proceedings from passengers. Most of them realize they've been fleeced right through their stay once they get to understand the real fares and tell us about it when they're departing. It is a shame that their first influence of the city is marred by means of those touts,” stated an airline reliable.
The police carried out a drive in April when TOI reported the harassment of passengers, in particular those visiting the city for the first time, arresting 12-13 touts in a month. But booked for petty offence, they have been soon bailed out and have been back in industry.
The factor resurfaced on the airport setting committee assembly last week with the airport officers urging police to take measures to curb the risk. “Touts, unauthorised vendors and beggars on the airport premises sully the image of the airport and the city,” an airport reliable stated.
Many passengers stated they have been approached by means of men status with placards on the go out gates and assumed they operated legitimately. “One of the lads quoted a fare and the other quoted a lower amount. So we opted for the latter. In hindsight, we realize they have been hand-in-glove,” stated Moinul Hassan, a Bangladeshi citizen who used to be in the town with a relative for scientific treatment and used to be charged Rs 1,500 for the travel to Ruby. Sources stated each and every tout generally made Rs 250-300 in line with passenger in cut-money.
Police officials stated men in plainclothes have been deployed periodically to spot the touts. But in addition they added that it used to be virtually unattainable to deal with vigil 24×7. “We are setting up a kiosk reverse gate three. We imagine the presence of cops will be a deterrent,” stated an officer.
Sources on the airport stated around 150 vehicles are operated as taxis on the premises with out the AAI’s sanction, a few of them registered as non-public vehicles as smartly. Three units of touts have carved up the arrival phase into 3 zones — one for passengers exiting gates 1 and 2, another for passengers exiting gate three and the 3rd for gate 4.
“The vehicles are parked in two puts — in an unused parking zone reverse the previous home terminal and inside the parking zone close to the integrated terminal. While those in the former don’t even pay parking price, vehicles which can be parked in the reliable parking zone pay Rs 150 in line with day without reference to the number of times they go out or enter,” a source stated.
“Around 60-70 touts grasp across the terminal development, maximum of them close to the exits to the home phase and close to the ATMs outdoor the parking zone right through the day. At evening, the job shifts to the world wing. We have gained several proceedings from passengers. Most of them realize they've been fleeced right through their stay once they get to understand the real fares and tell us about it when they're departing. It is a shame that their first influence of the city is marred by means of those touts,” stated an airline reliable.
The police carried out a drive in April when TOI reported the harassment of passengers, in particular those visiting the city for the first time, arresting 12-13 touts in a month. But booked for petty offence, they have been soon bailed out and have been back in industry.
The factor resurfaced on the airport setting committee assembly last week with the airport officers urging police to take measures to curb the risk. “Touts, unauthorised vendors and beggars on the airport premises sully the image of the airport and the city,” an airport reliable stated.
Many passengers stated they have been approached by means of men status with placards on the go out gates and assumed they operated legitimately. “One of the lads quoted a fare and the other quoted a lower amount. So we opted for the latter. In hindsight, we realize they have been hand-in-glove,” stated Moinul Hassan, a Bangladeshi citizen who used to be in the town with a relative for scientific treatment and used to be charged Rs 1,500 for the travel to Ruby. Sources stated each and every tout generally made Rs 250-300 in line with passenger in cut-money.
Police officials stated men in plainclothes have been deployed periodically to spot the touts. But in addition they added that it used to be virtually unattainable to deal with vigil 24×7. “We are setting up a kiosk reverse gate three. We imagine the presence of cops will be a deterrent,” stated an officer.
Sources on the airport stated around 150 vehicles are operated as taxis on the premises with out the AAI’s sanction, a few of them registered as non-public vehicles as smartly. Three units of touts have carved up the arrival phase into 3 zones — one for passengers exiting gates 1 and 2, another for passengers exiting gate three and the 3rd for gate 4.
“The vehicles are parked in two puts — in an unused parking zone reverse the previous home terminal and inside the parking zone close to the integrated terminal. While those in the former don’t even pay parking price, vehicles which can be parked in the reliable parking zone pay Rs 150 in line with day without reference to the number of times they go out or enter,” a source stated.
Kolkata: Taxi touts take commuters for a ride
![Kolkata: Taxi touts take commuters for a ride]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 15, 2018
Rating:
