Auto drivers exploit AI relocation to T2

Although Air India’s domestic operations were shifted to the international terminal T2 on October 1, passengers are still unaware about the relocation, which gives auto drivers an opportunity to fool them.

According to sources at the parking area of the domestic airport, some passengers who take auto rickshaws from Vile Parle, Andheri and Kurla ask auto drivers to take them to Air India. Earlier, the airline used to operate from terminal 1A of the domestic airport. But when passengers reach 1A, they realise that the terminal is closed or a security official informs them about the relocation. Then, in a hurry, they ask the auto driver to take them to the new location, allowing them to take advantage of the situation by asking for more money.

Commenting on the matter, a senior official from Mumbai International Airport limited (MIAL) said, “We have set up hoardings, boards and indicators at Vile Parle highway and major turn areas around Mumbai Airport.”

“We have sent a number of messages to our passengers about the relocation of the terminal. The passengers’ tickets also mention the terminal from where their flight is supposed to take off,” stated a senior operational officer of Air India.

Despite all these efforts by the airline and airport staff, a series of passengers have been fooled by crafty auto drivers. Supriya Lele, a marketing executive, while departing for Delhi faced a similar situation. According to Ms Lele, she had told the auto driver to take her to Air India terminal, after which she landed at the domestic airport where a private security guard told her to rush to Andheri Airport and when she again asked the driver to ferry her there, he immediately demanded an extra `300, while the fare for this route is around `160.

In another incident, NRI Jitesh Parikh, who came to Mumbai on November 5 and was leaving for Baroda on November 7, was shocked after reaching terminal 1A as he had already informed the auto driver to take him terminal 2. Later Mr Parikh had to hire another auto rickshaw to travel to the international airport, which cost him around Rs 150.

Sharvi Shotriya, who was supposed to reach Hyderabad for a meeting on October 26, had to miss her meeting as her auto driver first took her to the domestic terminal. According to Ms Shotriya, she was travelling by air after three months and wasn’t aware about the relocation, so when she asked the driver to take her to the AI terminal, he took her to the domestic terminal instead.