BENGALURU: With Namma Metro and suburban rail connectivity to the airport remaining a distant dream, passengers to and from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are increasingly finding commute expensive and cumbersome.
South Western Railway (SWR) is running just one train between KIA halt station and the city. BMTC is operating only 85 Vayu Vajra services, mainly due to soaring diesel prices. Though Namma Metro’s KR Puram-KIA line work has commenced, it will be operational only by 2024-2025. There is also no clarity on the deadline for the suburban rail link to the terminal. KIA is around 40km from the city’s central business district.
Many frequent flyers say there is a severe shortage of cabs at KIA, because of which they have to wait for long post landing. There are also several complaints of cab drivers demanding over and above the regular fare. Some drivers reportedly seek separate toll charge (which is already included in the fare of app-based cabs) and also opt for the untolled deserted route (Hennur-Bagalur Main Road).
In fact, for the past few weeks, some flyers have been venting their anger on social media. Rituraj Mehta’s tweet on early Monday morning read: “Huge issue at Bangalore airport of Ola drivers, cancelling cabs and calling and asking for double money, more than 60-70 customers affected (sic).”
A twitter handle named @FlyingBees28 wrote: “India’s biggest fraud on rental-cabs is going on at Bengaluru airport, where security and life of passengers are being compromised by making the passenger board the cab and payment being negotiated after cancelling the booking on the go like at gunpoint (sic).”
“With no cabs/minimum waiting 20 mins, while some Ola/Uber drivers are standing there, asking for more money if we don’t book via app. We had to pay extra as it crossed 45 mins. This happened twice,” read a tweet by Sheena Chaudhary.
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which runs KIA, said passengers can use app-based cabs like Ola and Uber as well as airport taxi services like KSTDC (08044664466), Meru (08044224422) and Mega Cabs (08047474747).
Ola and Uber were not available for comments.
A cab driver on condition of anonymity said: “Private financiers seized several cabs. Some drivers switched to other jobs due to reduction in earnings. This has led to a shortage of cabs. Diesel prices are also going up, but incentives given by aggregators have been slashed. For most trips, fare paid by the customer is not even sufficient to fill fuel. So many drivers aren’t choosing toll road and even switching off ACs.”
Option to pay toll charges
Prajwal A, a commuter, said while booking a ride, cab aggregators should provide toll/toll-free options. “They could charge a higher fare for toll-road option,” he said.
Satish, another passenger, wrote on Twitter: “Ola driver in Bengaluru wanted me to pay Rs 100 extra for a trip from Airport. He said it is for toll payment. I reminded him that he came via toll free (dark and unsafe road) then he started insulting me (sic).”
