Photographer Atul Kasbekar Slams Mumbai Airport Pickup System, Calls It ‘Waste Of Time’

Photographer Atul Kasbekar recently took to social media to express his disappointment with the pickup system at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. Read on to know more about what he has said.

Atul Kasbekar On Mumbai’s Airport Pickup System

Renowned photographer Atul Kasbekar recently criticised the pick-up and drop-off system at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. He stated that the system forces drivers to pay for parking, even for small pickups, making a simple task complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Sharing his disbelief and disappointment, he took to his X account to compare the Mumbai Airport system with those of airports around the world.

In his post, he pointed out how at most international airports, passengers can be collected directly from the arrivals kerb. He wrote, “At any airport around the world, you can come out to the kerb at arrivals and can be picked up by your car. It is, of course, a quick 5-minute ‘load bags and jump in’ pit stop.” The system allows vehicles to stop briefly, load their luggage and leave the airport within a few minutes.

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However, he further shared how the situation is far different at Mumbai airport. According to him, drivers arriving to pick up passengers are not allowed to stop at the arrival kerb; instead, they must enter the airport’s parking area for pickup.

He Called Out Pricey Airport Parking Fee

Atul wrote that what should be a quick three- to four-minute pickup ends up taking 20 minutes to half an hour due to the parking entry and exit. He also raised concerns about the parking charges. He stated that drivers must pay around ₹300 under the P6 parking rates, even if they are there for a few minutes. This led to unnecessary delays and expenses for people arriving for a few-minute pickup.

He also described the system as both a rip-off and a waste of time, suggesting measures to benefit the airport financially without inconveniencing passengers.

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What are your thoughts about the system? Please let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Ask27, X/Atul Kasbekar