Pick-up trouble: New Bengaluru airport policy throws firms handling large delegations into disarray | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: While Bengaluru International Airport Limited’s (BIAL) newly implemented parking and kerbside pick-up policy is intended to curb touting, illegal parking, and congestion, it is creating significant logistical challenges for large companies, tour operators, and organisations that rely on pre-arranged private cabs to transport delegates and business groups.Even as airport officials describe the changes as “teething troubles,” passengers and corporate travel coordinators say the system is proving impractical for handling large groups arriving at Terminal 2, particularly international delegates unfamiliar with the airport’s layout. RK Misra, co-founder of Yulu, who recently experienced the new system after landing on an international flight at Terminal 2, said while the intent behind the policy is understandable, initial hiccups remain. “The staff guiding vehicles ended up sending my private car into the wrong lane. But these are early-stage issues. BIAL is trying to curb the menace of touts, taxis overstaying, and blocking pick-up points, which was making the entire area chaotic,” he said.Misra added that with eight authorised taxi operators permitted at the kerbside, private cars continuing as before, and dedicated lanes for Ola and Uber, the system is largely streamlined. However, he flagged concerns around pre-booked and corporate cabs operated by travel agencies, which are widely used by companies and frequent flyers. “The long walk for such pick-ups is very inconvenient. Some solution needs to be found—either a pre-booked token system or priority access for a fee—to address this gap,” he added.Urbanist Naresh Narasimhan echoed this view, noting that safety gains are significant. “This new parking policy will certainly reduce touting. BIAL is working out options, and with the buggy system, pressure on senior citizens and mothers with children will be reduced. There will be some teething effects, but they are acceptable given the safety benefits,” he said.However, companies that rely on private tour operators to receive large delegations paint a different picture. A corporate logistic manager for a multinational firm said asking international delegates to walk nearly 800 metres or wait for buggies is “deeply embarrassing and unprofessional.” “We have tie-ups with private cab operators who charge nominal rates. Airport-authorised taxis charge significantly higher fares. For groups of 20 or 30 people, this becomes financially unviable,” he said.Similarly, another senior logistics manager handling airport transfers for global summits in Bengaluru, said: “For large conferences and international events, arrivals are staggered but coordination is centralised. We track flights, assign vehicles, and move delegates in batches. The new system breaks that chain. When vehicles are pushed far away and pickups become time-bound, one delayed bag or one elderly delegate can throw the entire plan off. Safety is important, but operational realities of group movement need a separate, well-thought-out framework.”Another major concern at Terminal 2 is the 30-minute pick-up window. “It is simply not realistic,” said Srinath R, a cab driver. “Passengers need time to collect their luggage, walk long distances, and reach the P2 parking area. Delays at the baggage carousel are common, and in such cases, it is drivers who end up suffering.”