DAYLIGHT ‘EXTORTION’ AT LGBI AIRPORT PARKING LOT

With the authorities looking the other way, a section of home guards deployed at LGBI airport – Northeast’s only intertiol airport - in the city have engaged in illegal collection of parking fee from gullible drivers and vehicle owners. In fact, they have even prepared a “shifting” no-parking signboard – without the knowledge of the authorities - to dupe people. The signboard does not bear the me of any authority. An investigation by The Sentinel revealed that while the airport authorities have not demarcated a proper no-parking zone, the home guards keep shifting the makeshift signboard to trap people and earn a quick buck. No visitor can identify the actual no-parking zone even as the makeshift signboard makes it more ambiguous. While the signboard in located between two dividers, the arrow at the signboard points towards the ground – leaving it to the imagition of the visitors as to where the no-parking zone lies. The home guards also tend to bargain the fine amount with the “erring” drivers. A person, who was recently harassed by the home guards, told this newspaper that he was initially charged Rs 500 – as is displayed in the makeshift signboard - as fine for parking his vehicle in the “wrong place”. Strangely, however, when he went to the airport counter to pay the fine, the personnel deployed there charged him Rs 200 issuing him the necessary receipts. Even the personnel at the counter could not explain the difference in the fine amounts. It is strange that the Airport Authority of India has been callous to the harassment caused to the passengers by the problem.