Mangaluru: App-based taxi drivers allege harassment, demand better facilities at Airport

Mangaluru: App-based taxi drivers allege harassment, demand better facilities at Airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 2, 2026: The Dakshina Kannada District Online Taxi Drivers’ Association (Regd.), Mangaluru, highlighted the injustice, harassment and various issues faced by app-based taxi drivers at Mangaluru International Airport. Association office-bearer Imtiyaz shared the details at a press conference.

He said that ever since the government handed over the management of Mangaluru International Airport to the Adani Group, problems have been increasing day by day, causing severe inconvenience to both the public and taxi drivers. Although parking space for app-based taxis was provided at the airport after years of continuous struggle by the association, harassment and exploitation continue on a daily basis even after parking was allotted.

In Mangaluru, more than 250 vehicles are operating under app-based radio taxi services, but parking facilities at the airport have been provided for only 10 vehicles. If more than 10 vehicles arrive, drivers are forced either to return to the city or pay double the parking charges to park their vehicles. As a result, drivers are unable to earn properly and are finding it extremely difficult to sustain their livelihoods. Despite repeatedly requesting the airport authorities to provide parking for at least 25 vehicles, there has been no positive response, he said.

Imtiyaz further pointed out that while private vehicles at the airport have a FASTag lane, commercial vehicles do not. Due to this, even if commercial vehicles enter the airport, pick up passengers and exit within 10 minutes without parking, they are still forced to pay a parking fee of ₹100. If a FASTag lane were provided, vehicles entering and exiting within 10 minutes would not be required to pay any fee.

App-based radio taxis have been permitted to pick up passengers only from the second lane. During the monsoon, passengers are forced to walk to the second lane in the rain, causing inconvenience. Elderly passengers, in particular, find it very difficult to reach the pickup point. Moreover, even for personal bookings, app-based taxis are required to pick up passengers only from the second lane, leading to dissatisfaction among customers and a decline in private bookings.

He also said that near the Ola and Uber parking area, there are no proper seating facilities for drivers. They are forced to remain inside their vehicles even during extreme heat or heavy rain, leading to physical health issues. There is also no toilet facility provided for drivers.

Additionally, due to the lack of proper arrangements at the airport exit gate, when two or three flights arrive simultaneously, vehicles get blocked. As a result, taxis that come to drop passengers are forced to pay ₹100 if they exceed the 10-minute limit, even though the congestion is caused by airport mismanagement. Collecting money from drivers under such circumstances is highly unjust, he alleged.