Airport taxi drivers protest at Sadahalli Toll over Bengaluru Airport’s new parking rules, services disrupted

Hundreds of airport taxi drivers staged protests near Sadahalli toll gate and KIA gates on Friday opposing the new parking and pick-up rules introduced by BIAL, leading to possible disruption of taxi services at the Bengaluru airport.

Tension prevailed near Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday morning as airport taxi drivers launched protests against the newly implemented parking and pick-up regulations. The agitation led to road blockades near the Sadahalli toll gate and caused concerns of disruption to taxi services for airport passengers.

The protest was triggered by the enforcement of new lane-segregation and pick-up management rules at the airport. Opposing these measures, taxi drivers decided not to operate services from the airport for the day. Hundreds of drivers were expected to participate, raising the possibility of delays and inconvenience for commuters.

The protest intensified near the Sadahalli gate of the airport, where demonstrators blocked roads and raised slogans demanding justice. Some protesters were seen throwing water bottles to express their anger. Police intervened to control the situation and attempted to disperse the crowd.

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As the agitation escalated, police resorted to mild lathi charge to prevent further disruption and clear the roads. Security was tightened in and around the airport to ensure smooth movement of passengers and vehicles.

New Parking Rules at KIA

The protest stems from new parking and pick-up regulations introduced by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to ease congestion at the arrival areas. Under the new system, strict time limits and overstay penalties have been imposed on vehicles entering pick-up lanes.

The new rules came into effect at Terminal 2 on December 11 and were implemented at Terminal 1 from December 13. Although initially planned for December 8, the rollout was postponed due to large-scale disruptions to IndiGo flight operations. After flight services stabilised, BIAL confirmed that the system was ready for full implementation.

Details of the New Pick-Up Charges

According to the revised guidelines, vehicles entering the arrival pick-up lane are allowed eight minutes of free access. Charges apply once this time is exceeded:

•    ₹150 for a stay between 8 and 13 minutes
•    ₹300 for a stay between 13 and 18 minutes

Any vehicle exceeding 18 minutes will be towed to the nearest police station, along with applicable fines and towing charges.

BIAL stated that the measures are essential to improve traffic flow, ensure safety, and reduce congestion at the kerbside, which handles nearly 1 lakh vehicles daily.

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Taxi Services Affected

Taxi drivers argue that the new rules are impractical given flight delays and passenger movement, and say the charges unfairly penalise them. “The time limit is unrealistic because passengers take time to come out of the terminal and reach the cab,” a protester said.  

Due to the protest, airport taxi services are expected to remain disrupted for several hours, impacting passengers travelling to and from KIA.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as discussions between stakeholders are expected to determine the next course of action.

The police said they were successful in persuading the protesters, following which the cab drivers have returned to duty for now. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sajith said the issue would be discussed with senior officials and a decision would be taken after further deliberations.

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