Saturday, September 21, 2024 Great news for travelers at Kolkata Airport! The long-awaited paid porter service is finally set to be launched, with at least two agencies submitting bids in response to the tender issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). According to airport sources, agencies from Delhi and Mumbai have expressed interest in operating this service in Kolkata. Efforts to reinstate the paid porter service, which was discontinued in 2019, have been ongoing since January, but previous tenders failed to attract any bidders.
Before the suspension, porters charged a fee of Rs 300 to assist passengers by transporting their luggage to the baggage scanner. They also helped arriving passengers with tasks such as calling cabs or booking hotels. The new tender proposes an increased end-to-end porterage fee of Rs 500 per passenger.
This service aims to assist elderly passengers, families, and anyone in need of help, by offering assistance with luggage transport to the check-in counter during departures or retrieving it from the baggage belt on arrival, for a fee. The service was previously halted due to passenger complaints of scams involving trolley retrievers who impersonated legitimate airport staff. Many passengers, particularly the elderly, those with limited mobility, and mothers traveling with children, have expressed a strong desire for the service to be reinstated, as have business travelers.
An airport official mentioned that the agencies will offer a range of services, including assistance with boarding passes, immigration, and seating in the waiting lounge. With approval from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the agency’s staff will have access to these areas. Similar services are available at several other airports across the country.
Under the new tender, the selected service provider will be allocated dedicated counters within the airport. The agency will offer guidance and support for elderly, ill, minor, and differently-abled passengers. As per the new guidelines, the agency will only be allowed to use the airport’s existing facilities and will not be permitted to rent vehicles from outside.
Passengers can book the service online or at the airport, and the agency’s staff will be equipped with trolleys to provide the required assistance..
