The road leading to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport witnessed traffic disruptions on Tuesday morning as cab drivers protested against new parking rules introduced by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which runs the airport. The protesters blocked the road at the Sadahalli toll gate.
Under the new parking rules, entry to the designated arrival and pick-up zone at the airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is free for all private cars, but there is a charge for overstaying inside the zone beyond eight minutes. Vehicles are fined Rs 150 for overstaying eight to 13 minutes and Rs 300 for overstaying 13 to 18 minutes.
“Any vehicle overstaying beyond 18 minutes will be towed to the nearest police station, and applicable fines and towing charges will be levied. All commercial vehicles, including yellow-board taxis and electric cabs, are required to wait for passengers only at the designated parking zones. To facilitate a seamless pick-up experience, the first 10 minutes of parking will be complimentary. Commercial vehicles arriving at Terminal 1 should proceed to the P4 and P3 parking zones, while those serving Terminal 2 are directed to the P2 parking zone,” the new rules stated.
The new lane segregation and fines have not gone down well with passengers, either. Several passengers complained that they were forced to walk for more than 1 km because of the new rules. Some others said they had to walk for a good 800 m with luggage to get into cabs.
Gautam Pradhan, a traveller, wrote on X, “@BLRAirport has designed an obstacle course before you can get into your taxi at T1 arrivals. Anyone with baggage, kids or elders will struggle. Don’t create problems! Please go back to the old system!”
@BLRAirport has designed an obstacle course before you can get into your taxi at T1 arrivals. Anyone with baggage, kids or elders will struggle. Don’t create problems!
Please go back to the old system!
cc: @ChristinMP_
— Gautam Pradhan (@gautamnpradhan) December 14, 2025
There have been disruptions since December 12. On Tuesday, the police intervened and cleared the cab drivers protesting at the Sadahalli toll gate.
While BIAL says that the overstay limit of eight minutes is much higher than international standards, taxi operators argue that it ignores unavoidable passenger delays. Security screenings, baggage collection, flight delays, and passengers navigating unfamiliar terminals routinely extend waiting times beyond the limit. Drivers say they are being penalised for circumstances that are entirely outside their control.
Cab drivers have planned a protest at Freedom Park on Wednesday.
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BIAL defends new parking rules
However, BIAL has defended its new parking rules. “At BLR Airport, passenger safety and convenience are our top priorities. With daily passenger and vehicle volumes continuing to rise, it became necessary to bring greater discipline and clarity to arrival pick-up areas to prevent congestion, unsafe halts, and confusion at the kerbside. The new pick-up measures are designed to create a safer, smoother, and more predictable experience for passengers.
Private vehicles have a dedicated pick-up lane with a generous free time window, while commercial vehicles operate from designated parking and supervised pick-up zones to ensure orderly movement. These systems are standard practice at leading global airports,” a spokesperson said in a statement on December 14.
The BIAL spokesperson further said the new rules were not about revenue generation.
“Our focus is on behaviour change, safety, and ensuring that pick-up zones remain available for genuine, quick boarding. We have rolled this out with extensive on-ground guidance, signage, and coordination with cab operators,” read the statement.