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A wow airport calls for worthy transport. So, drive in radio cabs.
A hearty consent from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has prompted mandarins at Birsa Munda Airport, who are already buoyed by the successful completion of the Rs 138-crore integrated terminal, to handpick a top Delhi-based firm to offer cab-on-call to high-fliers.
Carzonrent India Private Limited — arguably the country’s largest and most refined vehicle rental service — will offer Ranchiites a hassle-free ride to and from their new airport from the first week of April. The service will be 24x7 and can be booked online at www.carzonrent.com or by dialling the company’s hotline number (0888 222 2222).
Officials of the firm confirmed that they had entered an agreement with the airport authorities in the capital. “We are in the process of expanding our network in eastern India. At present, we have services at Bhubaneswar airport and are in talks with Guwahati too. Besides, we offer cars on rent in various other cities and to both private and corporate clients,” said an official.
Carzonrent’s eastern regional manager Bikram Chakraborty is looking after the project in Ranchi. Currently abroad, he is expected to return on March 28.
Speaking from Calcutta, another official of the firm, Anupam Kumar, said that they were readying for an April 1 (no fooling anyone!) debut. “If for some unexpected reasons, we are unable to do so, then we will certainly start offering our services by the first week of next month,” he said.
Kumar said they had launched radio cabs in Jamshedpur a year ago, but the response has been lukewarm so far. “There are two reasons. One, the Sonari Airport is not so developed. Two, we have no base there and have had to outsource the service to a local vendor, which uses its own fleet of cars.”
He added that Ranchi was expected to evoke a better response because of the new terminal. “Besides, we will have our own office to monitor our chauffeured fleet.”
Their radio cabs, Carzonrent officials claim, will be way different from other private ones, which often prompt passengers to complain of overcharging and reckless driving.
Briefly elaborating on some salient features, Kumar said that the cars would have well trained and well-behaved chauffeurs and the fleet will be well maintained to provide optimum comfort during travel. On charges, he added, “We are working on the same, but it will certainly be competitive and reasonable.”
A Birsa airport official, on the condition of anonymity, emphasised that the new service would end commuting hassles. “Fliers will have the option to choose between our cabs and other private rental vehicles. We are sure that the outsourced firm will offer better services because it has been selected after assessing various safety, punctuality and comfort parameters,” he said.
He maintained that the focus was on security of passengers. “All vehicles will be GPS-enabled for added safety. One can book through Internet or phone and pay by cash or card. A round-the-clock customer helpline will be in place,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sunday will see the high-profile launch of the new integrated terminal. On the elite evening guest list are Union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, AAI chairman V.P. Aggarwal and Jharkhand governor Syed Ahmed, besides top bureaucrats from the state.
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