Dimapur, July 23: Complaints have emerged from passengers and public transport drivers over the collection of entry fees at Dimapur Railway Station, with many alleging that auto-rickshaws and taxis are being charged even for brief passenger drop-offs.
According to several auto-rickshaw drivers and taxi operators, an entry fee of ₹20 for auto-rickshaws and ₹30 for taxis is being collected at the station entrance. While the charges are reportedly meant for vehicles using the designated parking area, drivers claim they are required to pay the fee even if they enter the premises only to drop passengers for a few seconds before immediately exiting.
Nagaland News Network visited the station and observed that signboards at the entrance warn against unauthorized parking and mention a ₹500 fine for no-parking violations. Drivers alleged that despite not parking their vehicles, they are still required to pay the entry fee, forcing them to either bear the additional cost or rush passengers to avoid spending more time inside the station premises.
The issue comes at a time when railway passengers are already facing significant inconvenience due to train cancellations, diversions, and delays caused by the ongoing floods in Assam. Many passengers said the additional charges eventually increase their travel expenses, as transport operators pass on the cost to commuters.
Receipts issued for the collection reportedly bear the name of NFR Dimapur Railway Station. Nagaland News Network approached railway officials at the station seeking clarification on why the charges are being collected even for short-duration drop-offs. However, no official response was available at the time of filing this report.
The matter has also drawn comparisons with the system at Dimapur Airport, where a timed entry-and-exit mechanism for pick-up and drop-off vehicles was introduced following repeated public complaints. Under that system, vehicles entering only for brief drop-offs are managed through a regulated in-time and out-time process.
Members of the public have questioned whether a similar system could be implemented at Dimapur Railway Station to ease the burden on passengers and public transport drivers.
Nagaland News Network will continue to follow the matter and seek an official response from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the concerned authorities.
