BLR Airport extends free T1 pick-up time to 15 minutes amid passenger criticism

Bengaluru:

Responding to sustained passenger complaints over congestion and impractical kerbside rules, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has extended the free parking duration at Terminal 1 arrival pick-up zones from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, even as it announced additional measures aimed at easing traffic flow.

In a media statement issued on Thursday, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said the revised free window will apply to P3 and P4 pick-up areas at Terminal 1. The extension comes after repeated public backlash from flyers who argued that the earlier 10-minute limit was unrealistic, given long walking distances, reliance on shuttle services and frequent delays in baggage clearance.

Alongside the time extension, the airport operator said corporate taxis (yellow-board vehicles) will now be allowed to pick up passengers from a dedicated fifth lane at the T1 departures drop-off area, in addition to the existing P3 and P4 pick-up points. The new facility, effective December 26, carries a pick-up charge of ₹275 for a 15-minute window.

According to BIAL, the fifth-lane pick-up area — located near Mitti Café and Shri Sagar — will be supported by improved signage and wayfinding, and is expected to ease congestion at the arrivals kerb.

The announcements follow months of criticism over T1 access arrangements, particularly the ₹275 charge for short-duration pick-ups and the perceived lack of a genuinely free kerbside option for private vehicles. Since the reorganisation of traffic flows after the opening of Terminal 2, passengers have taken to social media to flag confusion, long walks and what they describe as a system that nudges users towards paid services.

While BIAL has maintained that its approach is aimed at smoother traffic management and safety, mobility experts have argued that incremental tweaks do little to address deeper design issues, especially for elderly passengers, families and those travelling late at night.

The airport operator has also highlighted internal transport options, including shuttle buses running every seven minutes, along with six cars and 10 electric buggies ferrying passengers between terminals and pick-up zones. Critics, however, say dependence on such services only underlines the lack of direct, walkable access at the kerb.

With passenger volumes continuing to grow, observers note that the extension of free pick-up time appears to be a response to mounting public pressure, though whether it will significantly ease commuter frustration remains uncertain.