Del, Mum agencies keen to start paid porter service at Kol airport
Times of India | 22 September 2024
Kolkata: There’s some good news for flyers at the Kolkata airport! The elusive paid porter service is finally set to be rolled out with at least two bidders responding to the tender floated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Airport sources said agencies from Delhi and Mumbai had shown interest in starting this service in Kolkata.
Kolkata airport authorities have since Jan been attempting to reintroduce the paid porter service that was discontinued in 2019.But multiple tenders had failed to elicit a response. Before the service was discontinued, porters used to charge a fee of Rs 300 to transport passengers’ luggage in trolleys to the baggage scanner. Additionally, arriving passengers received help with calling cabs or booking hotels. This time, they have increased the end-to-end paid porterage charges from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per person.
The paid porter service is to assist the elderly and others, who wish to avail services like carrying the luggage to the check-in counter while departing or fetching it from the luggage belt on arrival against a fee.
The service was discontinued after passengers complained of being scammed by trolley retrievers. They had also alleged of being fleeced by trolley retrievers, impersonating passenger assistance staff.
Flyers — particularly the elderly and infirm and also mothers travelling with children — want the service to be reintroduced as do business travellers.
“They (the agencies) will be capable of providing various facilities to passengers, from boarding passes to immigration and seating in the waiting lounge. With permission from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the agency’s staff will be able to access all these areas,” said an airport official, adding that many airports in the country offer such services.
Under the new tender, the service provider will be allocated counters within the airport premises. The licensed agency will assist with airport formalities and provide guidance and assistance specifically to elderly, sick, minor, and physically-disabled passengers. According to the new rules, the agency can only use the facilities available at the airport and cannot rent any cars from outside. This service can be booked online or at the airport. The service provider will have their staff with trolleys.