Bengaluru: Airport taxi drivers operating at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru are facing mounting financial losses due to a sharp drop in international passenger arrivals and the growing presence of unauthorised taxi operators near the airport premises.
Drivers said the combination of reduced passenger traffic and increasing competition from illegal taxi services has drastically reduced their daily trips and earnings. The once-busy taxi queues at the airport now appear largely deserted, with several vehicles remaining idle for hours.
Taxi drivers stationed at the airport said the slowdown has significantly impacted their daily income.
Mallikarjun, a driver operating at the airport taxi stand, said that the movement of cabs has nearly come to a halt.
'The movement of cabs has come to a standstill. It now takes almost four hours for a taxi to get a single trip,' he said.
Drivers explained that earlier, during a typical 24-hour shift, they could manage between three and five trips. However, due to the current situation, completing even two trips in a day has become difficult.
Many taxis remain parked in the airport's buffer parking areas while drivers wait for passengers to arrive.
'The cars are just gathering dust in the buffer parking lots. Unless the walkie-talkie alerts us about an incoming passenger, around twenty to twenty-five cars remain idle for hours,' another driver said.
One of the primary concerns raised by the drivers is the increasing presence of unauthorised taxi operators near the arrival gates.
According to drivers, these operators approach passengers directly and offer rides at significantly lower fares compared to official airport taxis.
In many cases, the unofficial drivers reportedly offer discounts of 40 to 50 per cent below the standard airport taxi rates.
'For instance, if an official airport taxi charges around ₹1,500 for a trip to Jayanagar, unauthorised operators offer a shared ride for as low as ₹800. Naturally, most passengers choose the cheaper option,' a driver explained.
Drivers said this practice is directly affecting their ability to secure rides and maintain regular income.
Airport taxi drivers said that while the issue of unauthorised taxi operators was initially more visible around Terminal 1, the problem has now extended to Terminal 2 as well.
Drivers claim that despite repeated complaints, the situation has not been effectively controlled.
They have urged authorities to take stricter action against illegal taxi operators who intercept passengers before they reach the designated taxi counters.
Apart from illegal operators, drivers also face stiff competition from app-based taxi services such as Ola and Uber, which operate from designated pickup zones in the airport's basement parking areas.
Drivers associated with Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) airport taxi services said they feel sidelined as passengers increasingly prefer app-based rides.
Some drivers also expressed frustration over what they perceive as a lack of support for local taxi operators.
'There is a feeling that private companies are being favoured while local drivers who have served the airport for years are losing opportunities,' a driver said.
They added that many of them are Kannada-speaking drivers who have been working at the airport for a long time but now feel marginalised.
The reduction in daily trips has created serious financial strain for many taxi drivers.
Several drivers said they had purchased their vehicles through bank loans and depend on regular trips to pay their monthly instalments.
'When we cannot complete enough trips in a day or month, it becomes very difficult to pay loan instalments and manage household expenses,' said one driver, requesting anonymity.
Drivers warned that the continued growth of unregulated taxi operators could further damage their earnings and threaten their livelihoods.
Airport taxi drivers have urged authorities to step up enforcement against unauthorised taxi operators and ensure that passengers use designated taxi services.
They also requested measures to provide fair opportunities for official airport taxis and prevent illegal operators from approaching passengers inside airport premises.
Drivers hope that stricter regulation and improved passenger movement at the airport will help restore normal business levels and protect the livelihoods of hundreds of drivers who depend on airport taxi services.