Imagine stepping off a long flight, tired and laden with luggage, only to face a nearly one-kilometre trek to reach your pre-booked cab. This is the new reality for hundreds of passengers arriving at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), sparking widespread anger and frustration.
New Rules, Long Walks: The Core of the Problem
The Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has recently implemented a strict traffic management and kerbside pick-up policy at both Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2). The stated goal is to curb illegal parking, touting, and congestion outside the arrival areas. However, the execution has left travellers and cab operators fuming.
Under the new system, only airport-authorised aggregator taxis are permitted to pick up passengers directly from the kerbside. All other private pre-booked cabs, including long-distance and outstation taxis, have been shifted to designated pickup zones at parking areas P3 and P4. The catch? These zones are located nearly 800 metres away from T1.
For weary travellers, this translates into a gruelling 15 to 17-minute walk post-landing. The route involves navigating elevated walkways, ramps, long corridors, and multiple elevators while hauling heavy bags. The policy has hit senior citizens, parents with young children, and families the hardest, with many labelling it as insensitive and poorly planned.
Terminal-Specific Troubles: T1 Lanes and T2 Time Crunch
The chaos manifests differently at each terminal. At T1, arrivals now encounter a complex lane system: the first lane for government vehicles, the second for airport taxis, lanes three to five for private white-board vehicles, and the remaining for premium app-based services. While those choosing airport cabs can step right in, passengers with private bookings must embark on the long march.
At T2, the pressure comes from a strict time window. Drivers are given just eight minutes to pick up passengers before facing penalties, turning the arrival process into a frantic race against the clock. Passengers report feeling rushed and stressed, forced to sprint after a long flight to help their driver avoid a fine.
Passenger and Driver Backlash: A Story of Stress and Lost Livelihoods
The policy rollout, which saw visible chaos on a recent Monday morning, has been criticised for a lack of public communication and transition period. Confused passengers wandered asking for directions, while pre-booked cab drivers argued with security personnel.
Rakesh Sharma, a first-time visitor from Jaipur, shared his ordeal. He landed around noon with his elderly parents, one of whom has knee problems, only to be told their cab couldn't come near the terminal. "Making them walk nearly a kilometre was extremely stressful," he said.
Anita Fernandez, who arrived from Goa with her two children, called the experience exhausting. "After paying airport charges and cab fares, you expect some convenience. Instead, we were made to walk endlessly... For families, this is a nightmare," she stated.
Cab operators are also bearing the brunt. Many report passengers cancelling bookings mid-way to switch to airport taxis just to avoid the walk. Srinath R, a private cab operator with over a decade of service at KIA, said, "Passengers are angry and take it out on us, but this isn't our fault." The policy is directly impacting their livelihoods.
Mohammed Irfan, a passenger from Lucknow, summed up the sentiment: "There was no prior information, no clear signage, and no assistance. An airport arrival should be seamless, not stressful." The new measures, intended to streamline operations, have instead created a significant bottleneck of inconvenience at one of India's busiest airports.
