Patna: Parking at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna has become costlier after the airport administration revised parking charges for the first time in five years. While the new tariff has come into effect immediately, passengers have also been given some relief with the extension of the free pick-up and drop-off period from seven minutes to nine minutes.Revised rates include a steep increase for private cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and buses. The parking fee for private seven-seater cars and SUVs for the first 30 minutes has doubled from Rs 20 to Rs 40. For vehicles with more than seven seats, including large SUVs and autos, the charge for the first 30 minutes has increased from Rs 20 to Rs 80. Coaches, buses and trucks will now have to pay Rs 200 for the same duration, compared to Rs 30 earlier.Two-wheeler parking rates remain unchanged for shorter durations. The fee for the first 30 minutes continues at Rs 10, while parking between 30 minutes and two hours will cost Rs 15. For longer parking durations, seven-seater cars and SUVs will be charged Rs 65, vehicles with more than seven seats Rs 80, and coaches, buses and trucks Rs 300.The airport administration has also revised the pick-up and drop-off system to ease congestion outside the terminal. Private vehicles can now enter, pick up or drop passengers, and exit within nine minutes without paying any fee. Earlier, the free window was limited to seven minutes. Vehicles exceeding the prescribed time will be charged applicable parking fees, and enforcement will be strict.Commercial vehicles (private aggregators), including Ola and Uber cabs, will also be covered under the new policy. Taxi operators will now have to pay Rs 55 per trip for access to the arrival or departure area. According to airport officials, the move is aimed at reducing unnecessary vehicle movement inside the airport premises and ensuring smoother traffic flow.Officials said Patna airport is classified as a Category B airport, and the revised parking charges align with the tariff structure followed at other Category B airports across the country. All revised rates are inclusive of GST.To discourage misuse of parking space, vehicles parked for more than two hours will be charged an additional Rs 10 for every extra hour, while parking beyond 24 hours will incur higher charges. Premium parking facilities will continue, with charges ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 130.Patna Airport handles more than 3,000 vehicles everyday, with nearly 40 per cent of them arriving only to pick up or drop off passengers. Airport authorities have appealed to the public to follow the revised rules and keep track of the free parking time to avoid unnecessary charges while helping improve traffic management at the airport.
