Bengaluru: Dedicated BMTC bus bays at Terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport will be restored within the next 15 to 20 days, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has confirmed, following criticism over the earlier reduction in space allocated for airport bus services.

The move comes after concerns were raised over operational difficulties faced by airport bus services due to the shrinking of designated bays earlier this year. Civil works to rebuild and reassign the bays are currently underway, according to the minister.

Bus bays were reduced earlier

In January, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) faced criticism after the number of bus bays at Terminal 1 was reduced from 14 to six. One of the lanes was reassigned for use by a private taxi operator, leading to congestion and operational strain for airport bus services.

The reduction directly affected the functioning of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation airport fleet, which operates under the Vayu Vajra brand. With fewer bays available, buses were forced to depart quickly after arrival to avoid blocking access, limiting boarding time for passengers.

Transport department officials said this resulted in inconvenience for travellers, many of whom were left waiting for the next available service if they missed a bus due to rushed departures.

Vayu Vajra ridership expected to recover

Officials said the cut in bays also led to a measurable drop in daily ridership of Vayu Vajra services. A senior BMTC official noted that daily passenger numbers fell by more than 1,000 after the bay capacity was reduced.

Before the change, average daily ridership stood at around 12,000 passengers and peaked at nearly 14,000 on high-traffic days. Authorities expect these numbers to recover once the dedicated bays are restored and bus dwell time improves.

“Passengers typically decide to use the airport bus only when they can clearly see it available at the bay,” an official explained. “If they are told to wait 20 minutes for the next bus, many prefer taxis or app-based cabs instead. With more bays, buses can wait longer, board more passengers, and operate closer to full capacity.”

T1 critical for domestic passenger traffic

While a larger bus terminal facility is available at Terminal 2, officials pointed out that nearly 80 per cent of Vayu Vajra passenger traffic originates from Terminal 1, which handles the bulk of domestic operations.

Most domestic flights of IndiGo — the largest airline by market share — currently operate from Terminal 1, making it the primary demand centre for airport bus connectivity.

The earlier reduction in bays at T1 had also forced BMTC to put on hold its plans to expand Vayu Vajra routes and frequencies from the airport to additional parts of the city.

Expansion plans after stabilisation

Transport authorities said that once the bus bay situation stabilises and operations normalise, a fresh demand assessment will be carried out to examine the feasibility of expanding the Vayu Vajra network.

Officials emphasised that the airport bus service remains one of the most affordable and reliable modes of public transport connecting the airport with various city zones, especially for regular flyers and airport staff.

The state government holds a 13 per cent stake in BIAL, and the minister had earlier sharply criticised the decision to curtail bus bay space at Terminal 1. Airport authorities have not issued an official public comment on the restoration timeline.

Conclusion

With the restoration of dedicated bays expected shortly, airport bus operations are likely to become smoother, reducing passenger wait times and improving service visibility. Transport officials say this will help restore lost ridership and strengthen public transport access to the airport.