Come Sept, commute from airport easier

Chennai: Passengers landing at Chennai airport may soon have a smoother ride home, with a long-awaited second pick-up point near the domestic terminal likely to open by Sept after completion of ongoing plaza work. This development offers much-needed relief from the hassle of dragging luggage to the distant multi-level parking lot or squeezing into crammed buggies to get there.The new facility being built in front of Terminal 1 (T1) arrival area, is part of a broader plan to improve passenger convenience. For more than a year now, travellers have been demanding an easier way to board cabs or personal vehicles upon arrival."Right now, we are in the final stages of the plaza; membrane tensile roofing is being erected, and flooring will follow next," said a source. The plaza will be used as a resting zone for passengers and those accompanying them, with designated space for personal vehicle pickups. "A decision on allowing cabs to use this point will be made based on the traffic flow once it opens," the source added.In July last year, the cab pick-up point was shifted to Aerohub West multi-level car parking facility, drawing flak from passengers over its inaccessibility. Flyers have consistently raised complaints about the lack of enough buggies from T1 to the parking lot, poor lift access for luggage, overcharging by cabbies — especially when dealing with senior citizens, and unhelpful staff appointed by parking contractor."Airport authorities always claim cabs can pick up senior citizens, pregnant women, and differently-abled at the terminal itself. But cabs often refuse to arrive at the terminal," said Vivanesh G, a private firm employee, who experienced an unpleasant situation.Initially, the airport's hands were tied due to its agreement with Meenambakkam Realty Pvt Ltd, which managed the parking operations and had exclusive pick-up rights. However, the contract was terminated in May over a separate dispute, paving the way for the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to plan a second pick-up point.The transition is pending final approval from AAI regarding the cost of takeover. "The cost to manage the parking operations internally has been worked out. Once the board clears it, the formal handover will take place," said an AAI official.Chennai airport prepaid taxi drivers' union president C Murugesan said AAI knows well that more passengers opt for cabs than personal vehicles. "Allowing personal vehicles alone to the new pickup point will not serve the purpose, and we hope the authorities will not err again by keeping the cabs to the MLCP. We are in talks with them," he said.