LUCKNOW, Oct. 19 -- A family driving to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport to receive a relative could now end up paying Rs.1,000 to park their car for 24 hours - a staggering six times the published Rs.165 tariff at Varanasi airport. With even a brief four-hour stay costing Rs.500, the revised parking charges have sparked a heated public debate over whether the fees are proportionate to the facilities offered or simply an avoidable burden on passengers and local transport providers. The revised tariffs, effective since October 1, also distinguish between private and commercial vehicles, with commercial cars charged up to Rs.1,200 for 24 hours and larger vehicles facing charges of as much as Rs.3,000. The airport operator said the charges support security, infrastructure maintenance and traffic management. But comparisons with other airports suggest that the rationale for the rates deserves closer public scrutiny, particularly when the duration of free access and the structure of parking fees differ sharply. Private cars and SUVs get eight minutes of free access at Lucknow airport. Thereafter, the charge is Rs.150 for eight to 30 minutes and Rs.200 for 30 minutes to an hour. The fee rises to Rs.300 for up to two hours, Rs.400 for up to three hours and Rs.500 for up to four hours. Parking for four to 24 hours costs Rs.1,000. For commercial cars, the tariff is Rs.180 for eight to 30 minutes and Rs.300 for 30 minutes to an hour. Every additional hour costs Rs.100, subject to a maximum charge of Rs.1,200 for up to 24 hours. Tempos, Chhota Haathi vehicles, pickups, mini-buses, buses and trucks face steeper rates: Rs.600 for eight to 30 minutes, Rs.800 for 30 minutes to an hour and Rs.200 for every additional hour, capped at Rs.3,000 for up to 24 hours. Varanasi, Ahmedabad offer contrasting benchmarks The sharpest contrast is with Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, where the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) published tariff lists Rs.20 for a car parked for up to 30 minutes, Rs.55 for up to two hours and Rs.165 for seven to 24 hours. Varanasi also allows a 10-minute window in its pick-up and drop-off lanes, compared with eight minutes in Lucknow. At Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, private cars get eight minutes free, followed by a charge of Rs.150 for up to 30 minutes. The published tariff lists Rs.600 for parking from four to 24 hours, Rs.400 less than Lucknow's Rs.1,000, although the duration bands are not identical. Commercial vehicles face separate charges, including Rs.200 for arrival pick-ups during the first eight minutes and Rs.50 for departures. The comparison with Delhi and Bengaluru needs a distinction between ordinary parking and kerbside access charges. The tariff figures available for Delhi put 24-hour parking at Rs.600, against Rs.1,000 in Lucknow. Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport, meanwhile, has tightened enforcement against vehicles overstaying in arrival pick-up zones. Private cars generally get eight minutes free in designated zones, while Terminal 1 has separate pick-up arrangements allowing 15 minutes in specified areas. Overstaying can trigger charges of Rs.150 for eight to 13 minutes and Rs.300 for 13 to 18 minutes, with towing possible beyond that. Deepak Sinha, a taxi operator at Lucknow airport, said: "For commercial drivers, Lucknow's Rs.1,200 maximum charge for up to 24 hours is comparable to Ahmedabad's published commercial vehicle tariff for four to 24 hours. Hyderabad's published commercial four-wheeler rates, meanwhile, list Rs.300 for up to 30 minutes and Rs.1,000 for 24 hours. The latter is Rs.200 below Lucknow's maximum, though the charging slabs and designated parking arrangements must be checked before making a direct comparison." The cumulative effect on drivers making repeated airport trips is also worth examining. A charge on every entry can add up for taxi operators, particularly when passengers are delayed or flight arrivals change. Whether those costs are absorbed by drivers or passed on to customers is a further question for the airport operator and transport providers. A Lucknow airport spokesperson said: "The revised tariff was aligned with similar arrangements elsewhere and intended to support the upkeep of landside facilities while improving passenger experience. The airport operator incurs substantial expenditure on security, electricity, infrastructure maintenance and traffic management personnel. Sanitation and other amenities for drivers and visitors using passenger pick-up and drop-off facilities also require maintenance."...