New parking rates at Birsa Munda airport from May 1

RANCHI: The Birsa Munda

airport

in Ranchi will implement new

parking

charges from May 1 to curb vehicular rush near passenger terminal. It has also identified a new parking lot which can accommodate 350 vehicles, it said in a statement.
To curb the menace of excessive charge by parking agents, airport sources also maintained that they are working on a plan to introduce Fastag system, which will also get implemented soon.

"There have been reports that passengers get fleeced by the parking agency. Fastag will end those," said an official, adding that the additional parking lot is aimed at keeping lanes at the terminal buildings uncluttered. "We are seeking help of the local administration to ensure proper implementation of vehicular movement and parking plans from May 1 onwards," he added. According to the communique, private vehicles entering for pick-up and drop will not have to pay for entry and exit for 10 minutes. Earlier, it was only for five minutes.
Different parking rates have been devised as per the vehicle category. For example, a two-wheeler has to pay Rs 10 for first 30 minutes and Rs 15 for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Thereafter, two-wheelers will be charged Rs 5 per hour after 2 hours (120 mins). "The parking rate beyond 7 hours up to 24 hours will be 300% of the 30 minutes to 120 minutes," read the statement (see detailed price chart on ).
BJP, JMM spar over helipad at Hotwar

The BJP and JMM locked horns over a helipad outside the Birsa Munda airport in Ranchi.
BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Prasad Sahu said: "We have seen helicopters taking off and touching down at Ranchi airport during elections. But this is the first time helicopters are flying out from a helipad at Khelgaon in Hotwar. This has been done with the support of the Ranchi DC (deputy commissioner) and SDO."
Retorting to BJP's charges, the JMM said the helipad at Hotwar was designated to them by the Airports Authority of India and not the district administration. "It was designated to us because there is no parking space in the airport due to helicopters of other parties," JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said.