Mangaluru: A city-based techie on Sunday got the proof for the alleged daylight robbery by parking attendants at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) in his effort to verify an video that was doing the rounds on social media.

The video in circulation showed a car user questioning the parking attendant and the cashier about the collection of ₹60 for two-hour parking as against the ₹55 specified for cars.

The slip/ receipt issued was for SUV/ Tempo/ mini bus. The cashier, Rupender Singh, unhesitatingly displayed his identity card, challenging the car driver to complain to authorities concerned.

While the video was in circulation, Anand Bhandarakr, a web-developer and jeweller from Car Street, intended to collect the proof when he went to MIA to pick his mother on her arrival from Delhi on Sunday afternoon.

As routine, he was issued slip for ₹60 instead of ₹55, but Mr. Bhandarkar paid only ₹55.

“I know the actual fee and have been paying the same though being issued slip for ₹60. But most users do not know the same and end up paying ₹60, which is illegal,” Mr. Bhandarkar told.

The slip did not contain vehicle registration number, which is another violation.

Vehicle users are offered a certain time to pick up or drop passengers without paying any user fee and at MIA it is seven minutes from entry to exit. But one cannot complete the task within the time in normal circumstances and end up paying ₹60, Mr. Bhandarkar noted.

As one goes up the flyover, one’s movement is obstructed by taxis parked in a line amidst concrete blocks placed in between. Taxis should not parked on the flyover, he demanded. It takes at least 15 minutes for one to reach the exit gate and one is forced to cough up ₹60.

The AAI should provide at least 15 minutes breathing time, Mr. Bhandarkar said.

MIA Director V.V. Rao in a communiqué to the media said he has asked the commercial manager to inquire into excess collection of parking fee.

Even prepaid taxi operators also charge excess fees at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA).

Centre for Health and Development founder Edmond Fernandes in his complaint to Airports Authority of India (AAI) noted that while a fare of ₹500 for a distance of 18 km (Hampanakatte) itself was excess, a driver demanded additional ₹100 for a slight deviation. On AAI’s missive, Airports Tourist and Taxi Drivers Association said it has suspended the vehicle driver concerned, recently.

Urging AAI to scientifically fix fares on city ward basis, Dr. Fernandes wondered why online taxi aggregators were not allowed to operate out of the MIA. There cannot be anyone’s monopoly, he added.