MNS activist drags Mumbai airport operator to Bombay high court over toll

After Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray called on his supporters to do rasta roko to protest against toll, party activist Akhil Chitre has moved the Bombay high court against Mumbai airport operator GVK over the same issue.

Chitre has alleged in his petition that the airport operator illegally charges entry toll from all vehicles (private and commercial) coming to pick up or drop if they overshoot the stipulated time frame of five minutes. The case is expected to come up for hearing soon.

Mumbai airport officials refused to comment on the issue.

"I went to the airport on February 3 and found it impossible to pick up and drop anyone within the stated time frame of 5 minutes... under normal circumstances, any person would need at least 15 to 20 minutes for this," Chitre's petition states. It also states that he has found out that this toll/fees/charges are being levied since 2012.

"This is a kind of extortion from the general public disguised in the name of facility charges," stressed Chitre in his plea.

Chitre has also alleged that while GVK officials said they have permission from "the competent authority" to collect charges and are also authorised to collect a fine of Rs1,100 for loss of receipt by the vehicle owners, they don't have proof for the same.

The petition states that a meeting was called by the local deputy commissioner of police with NR Srinivasan, vice-president (operations), GVK, last Wednesday and, in the meeting, Srinivasan assured that he would show the documents authorising GVK to collect toll/charges the next day. However, he did not turn up the next day and, instead, sent Sumeet Anand, vice-president (commercial), who again assured to revert soon as he's busy with the airport extension, the petition adds.

"Post this, I asked the police to register an FIR. They, however, said they can't and started dodging me, thus pushing me to court," Chitre told dna.

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Mumbai airport authorities on Tuesday withdrew the fine for tourist cars parked haphazardly near the airport terminal, causing traffic jam. However, it has not withdrawn the Rs110 levied for staying on the premises more than the stipulated time frame of five minutes