Cab drivers and the families and friends of passengers who went to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) to pick up passengers on Monday (May 20) were taken aback to see hefty “stay and overstay charges” levied at the arrival lounge. The fee was introduced on Monday, and there was no prior notice.
According to a notice displayed on KIA premises, all commercial (yellow board) vehicles, including cabs, must pay an entry fee of ₹150 for up to seven minutes. If they exceed seven minutes, they will be charged ₹300.
Private (white board) vehicles have to pay a fee of ₹150 for staying between seven and 14 minutes.
Buses incur an entry fee of ₹600, while tempo travellers will be charged ₹300. Both buses and tempo travellers are permitted to enter through Lane 3 at Terminal 1.
According to Bangalore International Airport Ltd., the stay and overstay charges apply to vehicles coming to the pick-up lanes at Terminals 1 and 2. It is unclear whether cabs in dedicated taxi stands should also pay the fee.
Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola, Uber Drivers, and Owners Association, rued that this felt like “a daylight robbery”. “This will affect both private vehicle owners and taxi drivers. There are a lot of parking charges that they collect already and now we have to pay for picking up passengers. Airport authorities should cease collecting such charges,” he said.
