Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Online Taxi Drivers’ Association (Regd.) has alleged continued harassment, inadequate facilities and unfair charges for app-based taxi drivers operating at Mangaluru International Airport, stating that the situation has worsened since the airport came under the management of the Adani Group.

Addressing a press conference here on January 2, 2026, association office-bearer Imtiyaz said app-based taxi drivers were facing daily difficulties that were affecting their livelihoods as well as causing inconvenience to passengers. He alleged that despite repeated representations to airport authorities, several long-pending issues remained unresolved.

Parking shortage despite growing fleet

Imtiyaz pointed out that more than 250 vehicles are currently operating under app-based radio taxi services in Mangaluru. However, parking facilities at the airport have been provided for only 10 vehicles. If more than 10 taxis arrive at the airport, drivers are forced either to return to the city without a booking or pay double the parking charges to keep their vehicles at the airport premises.

“This makes it impossible for drivers to earn a steady income. Many of them spend long hours waiting for bookings, only to be turned away or charged extra,” he said. The association has been demanding parking space for at least 25 app-based taxis to meet existing demand, but there has been no positive response so far, he added.

Although the provision of parking space itself came after years of struggle by the association, Imtiyaz said the current arrangement was grossly inadequate and continued to expose drivers to harassment and financial loss.

No FASTag lane for commercial vehicles

Another major issue highlighted by the association was the absence of a FASTag lane for commercial vehicles at the airport. While private vehicles are allowed to use FASTag-enabled lanes, commercial vehicles, including app-based taxis, are excluded.

Due to this, even if a taxi enters the airport, picks up a passenger and exits within 10 minutes without using any parking space, the driver is forced to pay a parking fee of ₹100. Imtiyaz said that if a FASTag lane were provided for commercial vehicles, taxis exiting within the stipulated 10-minute window should be exempted from parking charges.

“This discriminatory system is unfair and places an unnecessary financial burden on drivers who are already struggling,” he alleged.

Passenger inconvenience at second-lane pickup point

The association also raised concerns about passenger inconvenience due to restrictions on pickup locations for app-based taxis. Currently, such taxis are permitted to pick up passengers only from the second lane at the airport.

During the monsoon season, passengers are forced to walk through the rain to reach the pickup point, causing discomfort and delays. Elderly passengers and those with mobility issues find it particularly difficult to access the second lane, Imtiyaz said.

He added that even for personal or private bookings, app-based taxis are not allowed to pick up passengers from the arrival area, leading to dissatisfaction among customers. This, in turn, has resulted in a decline in private bookings and affected drivers’ earnings.

Lack of basic facilities for drivers

Imtiyaz further alleged that basic amenities for drivers were missing near the Ola and Uber parking area. There are no proper seating arrangements, forcing drivers to remain inside their vehicles for long hours, even during extreme heat or heavy rain.

“This has led to physical health problems for many drivers. There is also no toilet facility provided, which is a basic necessity,” he said, calling the situation inhuman and unacceptable at an international airport.

Congestion at exit gate adds to losses

The association also blamed airport authorities for poor traffic management at the exit gate. When two or three flights arrive simultaneously, vehicles often get blocked due to inadequate arrangements, Imtiyaz said.

As a result, taxis that come only to drop passengers are sometimes unable to exit within 10 minutes and are forced to pay a ₹100 charge, even though the delay is caused by congestion beyond their control. “Collecting money from drivers under such circumstances is highly unjust,” he alleged.

Call for immediate intervention

The Dakshina Kannada District Online Taxi Drivers’ Association urged the airport management and district authorities to immediately address these issues. Imtiyaz said improving parking facilities, providing FASTag lanes for commercial vehicles, allowing more accessible pickup points and ensuring basic amenities for drivers would benefit not only taxi operators but also the travelling public.

Unless corrective steps are taken, he warned, the problems faced by app-based taxi drivers at Mangaluru International Airport would continue to escalate, affecting service quality and livelihoods alike.

Official response from airport authorities

Responding to the allegations, Mangaluru International Airport, part of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, issued an official statement.

Mangaluru International Airport, part of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, is working with leading app-based taxi aggregators in line with passenger and stakeholder expectations. The Airport will accommodate all requests in coordination with these aggregator companies. As Mangaluru is a table‑top airport with limited space availability, our top priority is to manage operations efficiently. App-based taxi aggregators operating at the airport have been provided four hours of free parking to pick up arriving guests and operate on first-in first-out principle. Digital payments are the cornerstone of our operations to ensure efficiency and transparency in functioning.

What News Karnataka found during verification

News Karnataka, while researching the issue and verifying details related to parking arrangements for app-based taxis at Mangaluru International Airport, found that the airport follows the following parking policy for aggregator-linked vehicles:

  • App-based taxis with an Ola seal are permitted to park at the parking area in front of the Integrated Cargo Terminal
  • Vehicles without passengers are allowed free parking for up to four hours
  • Vehicles with passengers are charged ₹100 for up to four hours
  • Vehicles without passengers staying beyond four hours and up to five hours are charged ₹100
  • Vehicles with passengers staying beyond four hours and up to five hours are charged ₹200
  • Parking operates on a first-in, first-out basis, and digital payments are used to ensure transparency

The airport has cited limited space availability due to its table-top layout as a constraint in expanding parking facilities, while stating that coordination with app-based taxi aggregators is ongoing.