Cabbies block Bengaluru airport road; cops clear 5-km long traffic jam

Bengaluru, May 31: Passengers alighting flights and others headed for Bengaluru city from Kempegowda International Airport faced a harrowing time at the Devanahalli toll booth on Tuesday morning as several taxi drivers staged a snap protest against the transport department's action against 'illegally' plying aggregator taxis.

Sources said the traffic snarl caused by the blockade stretched for nearly five kilometres from the toll booth towards the city. It jam was reportedly cleared by the police around 10 am.

Top sources in the traffic police department said the protest continued for around 45 minutes and that the flow towards the airport was not affected by the jam.

Seeking an audience with Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda, taxi drivers' unions said despite them requesting for some time, the officials were continuing to harass them. They also threatened to stage more such road blockades if the enforcement did not stop.

The taxi drivers were instructed on Monday (May 30) that the drive would continue to make them comply with the new transport aggregator rules in the state. The protest took place on Tuesday after the officials caught a few taxis.

Oneindia News