BIAL rolls out ₹275 premium pick-up charge for corporate taxis at Bengaluru airport

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has rolled out a ₹275 pick-up charge for corporate taxis at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), introducing what officials describe as a “soft launch” of a premium pick-up facility at Terminal 1.

A BIAL official confirmed on Wednesday that the charge applies to the premium pick-up zone at the Terminal 1 departures level. Under the new system, corporate taxis using this facility will be charged ₹275 for the first 10 minutes, with an additional ₹150 levied for every subsequent five minutes. The designated pick-up point for this service is the fifth lane at the Terminal 1 departures area.

The introduction of the premium pick-up charge comes amid continuing changes to parking and pick-up regulations at the airport. Following criticism from cab drivers and passengers, the BIAL has already relaxed certain aspects of the new rules.

From December 26, 2025, the free parking duration for commercial vehicles at the Terminal 1 arrival area was extended from 10 minutes to 15 minutes.

Under the earlier pick-up regulations implemented on December 13, 2025, commercial vehicles were required to wait at designated P3 and P4 parking areas, where only 10 minutes of complimentary parking was allowed. With the revised arrangement, drivers now get 15 minutes of free waiting time. After this period, cab operators are charged ₹100 for the first 30 minutes and ₹50 for every additional hour.

The revised parking and pick-up rules had triggered strong opposition from sections of the cab driver community. On December 16, 2025, a large number of drivers staged a protest near the Sadahalli toll gate, demanding a complete rollback of the new regulations. The protesters argued that the rules increased operational costs and made passenger pick-ups more cumbersome.

The public discontent has also found expression online. An online petition on Change.org titled, “Roll back new pick-up rules at KIA Bengaluru” has garnered more than 1,500 signatures. Petitioner Hareesh Amjuri said the recent changes have caused significant inconvenience to travellers, particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and families carrying heavy luggage, calling for a more passenger-friendly approach to airport pick-up policies.