Three-wheelers at the Easy Auto stand at Patna airport. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 16: The city airport would not have the services of Easy Auto from Thursday. For, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided not to renew its six-month-old agreement with Smart Commuting Services Private Limited (SCSPL), which was providing the three-wheeler service.

The AAI had provided space to the SCSPL on the airport campus for offering this service.

Sources at Patna airport said the AAI took the decision because the SCSPL was not adhering to the terms of agreement.

“Those running the firm had promised to provide meter autos so that passengers did not have to indulge in bargaining. But it was not done and the operators started charging fares as per their will. That is not acceptable to us,” said an official of Patna airport.

Refuting the charge, the SCSPL chief executive officer Harish B. Iyer said his firm never promised to launch services of meter autos.

He also said he failed to find a reason behind non-renewal of the contract by the AAI.

Iyer said he was in talks with the state government so that it intervened in the matter and ensured the services of Easy Auto be provided to the passengers at Patna airport once again.

The airport official, however, said some passengers lodged complaint against the SCSPL accusing it of providing poor service. Some also complained about exorbitant fares being demanded from them.

“Keeping all these factors in mind we decided not to renew the agreement,” said the official.

He said no immediate arrangements had been made as far as providing alternatives to the passengers coming to the airport.

Passengers did not appear much concerned about the withdrawal of the Easy Auto facility.

Mukul Prasad, a frequent flyer, said: “Several things were promised at the time of the launch of the Easy Auto service. But the service provider never fulfilled them. It is better to add something good than continuing with the old one which is not meeting the requirements of the passengers.”

Another passenger said the airport officials should take steps to introduce some better facilities.