BPIA adopts free parking policy, albeit after delays

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Bhubaneswar: Much to the relief of drivers at pick-up and drop-off zones at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), the city airport management has officially put into effect the new parking policy Monday.
The BPIA had earlier announced that the ‘time-based free car parking’ system would be removed from April 1. The new policy planned will allow for cost-free stay for drivers waiting for disembarking passengers.
However, sources at the BPIA told Orissa Post that due to dispute between the airport management and the contracted party for the erstwhile parking policy, the new scheme had been put on hold and was delayed from its scheduled date.
“Under the new policy no charges for private vehicles going to drop off or pick up passengers will be levied. Commercial vehicles will not have to pay for departures only but access fee of `40 will be levied on all commercial vehicles as defined in the Motor Vehicles Act,” stated BPIA Director Suresh Chandra Hota.
“All the government-owned vehicles and buses sponsored by them will be allowed free of cost. Meanwhile, parking of any vehicles in the lanes of the BPIA leading to entry or any other area than designated parking shall attract penalty as per the Airport Authority of India (AAI) policy,” he added.
Under the ‘time-based fee car parking’ system vehicles were charged a fee of up to `55 for more than six minutes of parking on BPIA premises’ lanes. The free parking policy had come at the backdrop of AAI issuing new set of guidelines for the parking systems at all the airports from December 10 last year.
Meanwhile, citizens have welcomed the new policy terming it as a gradual step in making BPIA a people-friendly airport. “It’s glad to know that airport is dropping the waiting charges. There was a lot of confusion and inconvenience earlier, hopefully this will change with the new policy,” said Sanjib Das, a citizen of the state and a frequent flier.
BPIA had earlier announced free parking system would be implemented from April 1.
However, sources at the BPIA told that due to dispute between the airport management and the contracted party for the erstwhile parking policy the new scheme has been put on hold. The gridlock was finally sorted.