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PUNE: Pune deputy mayor Siddharth Dhende on Wednesday termed three-minute parking rule completely wrong, mounting pressure on the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to roll back the norm, introduced almost two months ago.

According to the new rule, vehicles entering the airport premises for pickup are charged Rs340 if they stay in the area for over three minutes. "It is a completely wrong policy. Why should the passengers have to walk so far and cross the road to board a cab? How can the AAI charge such a huge money from the vehicle owners as penalty? How is it possible for anyone with luggage to get into the car and leave within three minutes? We have given a letter to the airport director on Wednesday. If the decision is not reverted, agitations will follow," said Pune deputy mayor Siddharth Dhende.

An airport official said it was a policy matter. "The letter has been received and it would be sent to the higher authorities. It is up to them to decide," the official said.

