KOLKATA: Taking advantage of the multi-pronged commute trouble from Kolkata airport, where pre-paid taxis are few and app cabs throw tantrums (right from refusing to go to passenger's destination to seeking cash as the preferred mode of payment), taxi touts are slowly making a comeback outside Kolkata airport. Unlike on earlier occasions, this time passengers are actually banking on them to get cars out of the airport even as they charge extra.
Upgrading from their earlier tactics of haggling with passengers coming out of the airport terminal gates, the touts now stand near the pre-paid taxi booths or outside the terminal gates, keeping an eye on passengers trying to book a cab - either from the police-run pre-paid kiosk or on an app. Once they find the passenger hassled enough by the tantrums, they politely approach them for help - often quoting the fare that's shown in the app cab and even offer help to carry their trolleys to the cars.
TOI stood outside the airport on multiple days this week, noticing the change in approach of the touts who no longer seem to pester passengers but have mastered the art of man-marking and are choosing their targets wisely.
"I tried to book an app cab till Jadavpur and the fare showed Rs 700. It was any case high but the driver demanded the amount in cash. I approached the pre-paid counter as well but I was asked to wait as there were no cars. That is when a man approached me and offered to take me to Jadavpur at the price quoted by the app cab and said I could pay him over UPI. He even offered to carry my trolleys to the car parked at the parking lot," said Subhasree Basu, who was returning from Delhi with her husband earlier this week.
Apart from app cabs and pre-paid taxi counters, the airport even has a luxury taxi operator kiosk, who offer car rental service and charge both ways. "Apart from these licensed operators, no one else can operate taxi service. The touts are mostly drivers who park their cars at the parking lot and take passengers illegally. We have informed the local police station," said a senior official at Kolkata airport.
An officer of Bidhannagar City police said they carry out surprise raids and nab touts time and again. "The number of touts has come down to bare minimum these days. To mitigate the commuting trouble, we are also operating buses from within the terminal till as late as 11pm," he said.
