RGIA emerges as the costliest metro airport for parking
HYDERABAD: Parking at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has become more expensive than at other metro airports in India. The airport also levies one of the country’s highest embarkation fees.
Official data from metro airports shows that airports in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru usually charge between ₹100 and ₹150 for parking a four-wheeler for the first 30 minutes. They generally charge around ₹80 for every extra hour, as reported by TOI.
However, Hyderabad airport charges ₹150 for the first 30 minutes and ₹100 for every additional hour. This makes it the costliest metro airport in the country for private vehicle parking.
Longer Parking Duration Widens Price Gap
The price difference increases for longer parking durations. Airports in Mumbai and Delhi cap four-wheeler parking charges at around ₹600 for 24 hours. In contrast, Hyderabad airport charges up to ₹750 for a full day. Mumbai airport also provides up to eight minutes of free parking.
Hyderabad airport also charges commercial vehicles, including taxis, at higher rates. Taxi operators pay ₹300 for parking up to 30 minutes and ₹400 for up to one hour. After that, the airport charges ₹200 for every extra hour. The total can reach ₹1,000 for 24 hours.
By comparison, airports in Mumbai and Delhi charge around ₹250 and ₹270 respectively for 30 minutes of commercial vehicle parking. Their 24-hour parking cap stays close to ₹800.
Frequent flyers say parking costs have increased sharply over the years.
“Earlier, it used to cost around ₹300 for 24 hours. Later it increased to ₹500, and now it is ₹750. I travel over 50 times a year for conferences and even enquired about an annual pass, but there is no such option. Despite the high charges, the parking area still lacks amenities like a roof,” said Dheerendra Sammineni.
According to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, officials revised parking charges in July last year.
A GHIAL spokesperson said the airport increased charges to support infrastructure upgrades and advanced technology solutions. The company said these measures aim to improve the safety and security of parked vehicles.
Passengers Shift to Taxis Amid Rising Costs
Many passengers now avoid taking personal vehicles to the airport because of the rising parking fees. Instead, they rely on taxis.
Taxi users, however, also face extra expenses because drivers must pay parking fees to enter the airport premises.
“Authorities recently restricted taxi access to arrival zones for passenger pickups. As a result, several taxi operators are reportedly converting their vehicles to white-board registrations, which is illegal,” said the president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union.
