Taxi services hit at Bengaluru airport due to protests over cab driver's death

02-04-2021

Taxi services at Bengaluru airport were severely impacted on Friday due to protests by cab associations after a driver allegedly died by suicide. The Bengaluru International Airport Limited issued an advisory, asking passengers to use the state-run bus service or make their own travel arrangements. On Wednesday, a cab driver, identified as Pratap (34), set himself on fire near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Initial reports revealed that Pratap was depressed due to financial issues. According to police, Pratap, who hailed from Ramanagara district, had locked himself in his car before pouring petrol over himself and setting himself ablaze. Pratap was registered with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC). The incident has brought back to focus the difficulties being faced by taxi drivers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to a reduction in flight operations, the number of passengers on the airport route has reduced drastically. Moreover, skyrocketing fuel prices have compounded problems for cab drivers. "The fuel prices have hurt the drivers the most. We have been telling the government about our problems. It could have been anyone," said cab association head Tanveer Pasha. Recently, the state transport department met representatives of cab associations and heard their concerns. The department has revised the fare from Rs 44 to Rs 75 for small cabs for the first four kilometers and from Rs 80 to Rs 150 for luxury cars.