Drivers of the kaali-peelis held fliers arriving in Mumbai to ransom as around 1,500 of them went on a protest against the plan to shrink their parking space at the GVK-run domestic airport
Taxi drivers and slumdwellers protest the GVK’s policies outside the Mumbai airport yesterday. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
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Drivers of the kaali-peelis held fliers arriving in Mumbai to ransom yesterday as around 1,500 of them went on a protest against the plan to shrink their parking space at the GVK-run domestic airport. The protest’s effect was compounded by heavy rain, traffic snarls and potholed roads.
The Mumbai Airport Taxi/Rickshaw Union, led by Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab, claimed that the GVK plans to reduce its parking space on September 20 for the Metro-III corridor and allow only 100 taxis on the premises. At present, some 750 taxis can be accommodated at the airport’s parking lot.
“GVK has said it will allow only100 vehicles inside. This is far too inadequate, especially considering that it plans to remove the parking space for 400 vehicles below the flyover and another near a five-star hotel as well,” said Kanhaiya Singh, leader of the union.
The union claimed that the rest of the taxis would be allowed to park near gate 9 (the VIP entrance), but also pointed out that at any time a VIP arrived, the drivers would have to make way.
GVK authorities, however, claimed that the parking space is adequate. “These drivers park their vehicles for days together and refuse to ply,” said a GVK official. The company claimed that the protest did not make a dent in operations.
Slumdwellers who stand to lose their homes in the Metro-III project, too, joined the protesters. Nearly 1.2 lakh slumdwellers need to be rehabilitated before construction of the corridor can begin.
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