Commuters at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport faced major inconvenience on Tuesday after taxi services were severely disrupted due to an indefinite strike by app-based cab drivers. The protest, launched over various pending demands, left hundreds of passengers stranded without transport options.
With taxis unavailable outside the airport, many passengers were forced to walk nearly a kilometre to reach the main road. The situation was particularly difficult for families, elderly travellers, and those carrying heavy luggage, who bore the brunt of the disruption.
Several passengers reported that even after booking cabs through apps, vehicles failed to arrive, forcing them to wait for long durations before ultimately walking out of the airport premises.
Complaints of overcharging also surfaced, with some travellers alleging that private drivers demanded exorbitant fares.
Passengers expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of proper transport arrangements. A traveller arriving from Delhi said he had to walk with his family to reach the main road after failing to get a cab. Another passenger from Mumbai claimed he was asked to pay around ?1200 for a short-distance ride.
Although metro feeder bus services are available from the airport, commuters said the services were insufficient to handle the rush. The lack of adequate public transport arrangements further worsened the situation, allowing autorickshaw drivers to charge arbitrary fares.
Meanwhile, private taxi operators witnessed a sudden surge in demand due to the app-based taxi shutdown, with many reportedly taking advantage of the situation by charging higher fares.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com