Hyderabad: Members of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) have strongly opposed the overstay charges levied on vehicles halting on the arrival and departure ramps at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).Currently, any vehicle that halts for more than eight minutes on the ramp is charged Rs 125 for every extra minute. Cab drivers of ride aggregator apps claim they are forced to pay anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 500 as passengers often turn up late.Drivers say the fee is now directly deducted from their fastag account, with no provision for making manual payments.“Drivers are being penalised for delays arising out of traffic management and operational issues beyond their control,” rued Shaik Salauddin, founder-president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union, demanding that airport authorities extend the free drop-off period to 10-15 minutes and exempt drivers from charges during traffic congestion, technical glitches and payment-related delays.Hyderabad airport authorities, meanwhile, said that the terminal forecourt is a high-security zone and that similar systems are followed at major airports across the country to regulate vehicle movement and prevent congestion.“At Hyderabad Airport, we continuously strive to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all passengers and visitors. A grace period of up to eight minutes is provided for pick-up and drop-off, post which nominal charges are applied. This helps minimise delays and ensure timely access for passengers, especially during peak hours. The system is automated to ensure transparency and ease for all users,” an airport spokesperson said.Airport authorities maintained that the policy has been introduced to streamline traffic and improve passenger convenience at the terminal ramps, which are designated as no-parking zones.
