The hue and cry, the media reports and intervention from some groups have finally paid off. Bagdogra Airport has now decided to exempt private vehicles from the parking fee on the airport premises, albeit on one condition.

The private cars will now get a full 15 minutes to pick/drop passengers and return to the exit gate, unlike the present 5-minute window.

Airport authorities have said that they will implement the decision “soon after completion of some formalities.” The agency appointed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to collect the fee will, however, charge commercial vehicles as per the terms and conditions set by the authorities.

Authorities have also chalked out alternative plans to ease traffic the congestion on the airport premises, especially at the entrance and exit points and the area where passengers are picked and dropped near the terminal building.

Airport authorities recently demolished a small structure, which used to house a police post, to make way for a second exit route. “Once ready, vehicles will use the second exit directly from the parking area to reduce pressure on the existing way out,” an airport official said.

Authorities have allotted the police a new house on the left of the main entrance. A ‘remodeling’ is going on at the airport’s parking area and pavements after completion of the construction of the drainage system there. Airport officials said the new plans will help until a larger expansion project is implemented.

It may be mentioned here that there have been complaints from various quarters, including some organizations associated with the trade and tourism industry, about the several problems plaguing the only airport that presently serves north Bengal and Sikkim.

“No parking fee will be collected from private cars as they drop passengers in front of the terminal and return within a stipulated 15 minutes. Parking fee will be collected only from commercial vehicles,” Bagdogra Airport Director Rakesh Sahay said, when asked to comment on the developments.

Presently, private cars are charged Rs 55 if they cross the 5-minute window given to them to drop or pick passengers and return. However, people have said that the entire process of entering the airport area, dropping passengers and returning takes well over 5 minutes, given the distance between the exit point and the terminal building and the traffic snarl there.

“Traffic congestion will ease after the second exit, especially from the parking area, starts functioning. The existing entrance and exit roads connecting the terminal will be used for normal vehicle movement,” Mr Sahay further said.

Significantly, Trinamul Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Ranjan Sarkar, said: “Airport authorities have accepted our demand. Traffic congestion problems will be reduced after the third gate will be operational.”

Another Trinamul leader and councilor of the SMC, Krishna Chandra Paul, said the ongoing construction of the pavement on either side of the road, which connects National Highway-31 from the Airport, has narrowed the road. Both the leaders also admitted that expansion of the airport is the need of the hour.

Notably, principal secretary of transport, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, addressing an interactive session of the Hill Business Summit in Darjeeling, pointed out to issues of Bagdogra Airport, while he quoted airport director Mr Sahay.

“The Centre wants to make Bagdogra Airport more urbanized to cater to the eastern and northeastern region, estimating Rs 3,000 crore. For this expansion project to materialize, an additional 100 acres of land is required.

There are issues of compensation and rehabilitation,” Mr Bandyopadhyay said. “Minister Goutam Deb has been holding negotiations with land owners. Both the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister of West Bengal will continue dialogue with the civil aviation minister. This is good news for Darjeeling from the point of view of tourism,” he added.