As taxis and BMTC buses refused to ply on bandh day, thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here on Friday. Departure of 11 flights was delayed as the airport-bound flyers could not reach the gates on time.
Trouble started early at KIA as a group of Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists protested raising slogans just outside the departure terminal. But hundreds of travellers had arrived even before, anticipating travel problems on Friday morning. Huge crowds thronged the terminal both inside and outside, causing severe strain on the airport infrastructure.
Rafiq Somani, who had reached the airport well before 5 am, had this to say:"There is total chaos here with thousands of people either trying to fly out early or sleeping all over. They have been camping here all night. I am worried about fellow passengers, especially the elders and children who are stranded."
Tweeted another passenger, Dan Husain at 4 am:"Bengaluru airport is madness right now. People camping overnight in fear of missing their flights." Allan Andrade, a frequent traveller, compared the rush to the ones usually seen at the city railway station.
For Udayan Anand, the line of passengers was unmanageably big. "People resting and sleeping on the floor. The airport is now looking like a crowded train station platform," he said. Akhil Gupta, a fellow traveller, likened the rush to the traffic congestion at Silk Board junction.
However, the airport officials said all the KIA stakeholders had come together to ensure that passengers were not inconvenienced. Refreshments, additional seating, enhanced Wi-Fi and food were provided with augmented staff both at the kerb side and terminal, said a BIAL spokesperson.
The flight delays were reported between 5.55 am and 7.30 am. Of these, eight were Indigo flights and three Air India departures. Many passengers opted to get their relatives drop them to the airport on personal vehicles, although it was risky to travel on Airport road. Normalcy was restored once the taxis started operating after 3.30 pm and BMTC airport buses began plying at 5.50 pm.
Trouble started early at KIA as a group of Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists protested raising slogans just outside the departure terminal. But hundreds of travellers had arrived even before, anticipating travel problems on Friday morning. Huge crowds thronged the terminal both inside and outside, causing severe strain on the airport infrastructure.
Rafiq Somani, who had reached the airport well before 5 am, had this to say:"There is total chaos here with thousands of people either trying to fly out early or sleeping all over. They have been camping here all night. I am worried about fellow passengers, especially the elders and children who are stranded."
Tweeted another passenger, Dan Husain at 4 am:"Bengaluru airport is madness right now. People camping overnight in fear of missing their flights." Allan Andrade, a frequent traveller, compared the rush to the ones usually seen at the city railway station.
For Udayan Anand, the line of passengers was unmanageably big. "People resting and sleeping on the floor. The airport is now looking like a crowded train station platform," he said. Akhil Gupta, a fellow traveller, likened the rush to the traffic congestion at Silk Board junction.
However, the airport officials said all the KIA stakeholders had come together to ensure that passengers were not inconvenienced. Refreshments, additional seating, enhanced Wi-Fi and food were provided with augmented staff both at the kerb side and terminal, said a BIAL spokesperson.
The flight delays were reported between 5.55 am and 7.30 am. Of these, eight were Indigo flights and three Air India departures. Many passengers opted to get their relatives drop them to the airport on personal vehicles, although it was risky to travel on Airport road. Normalcy was restored once the taxis started operating after 3.30 pm and BMTC airport buses began plying at 5.50 pm.
As taxis and BMTC buses refused to ply on bandh day, thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here on Friday. Departure of 11 flights was delayed as the airport-bound flyers could not reach the gates on time.
Trouble started early at KIA as a group of Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists protested raising slogans just outside the departure terminal. But hundreds of travellers had arrived even before, anticipating travel problems on Friday morning. Huge crowds thronged the terminal both inside and outside, causing severe strain on the airport infrastructure.
Rafiq Somani, who had reached the airport well before 5 am, had this to say: "There is total chaos here with thousands of people either trying to fly out early or sleeping all over. They have been camping here all night. I am worried about fellow passengers, especially the elders and children who are stranded.”
Tweeted another passenger, Dan Husain at 4 am: "Bengaluru airport is madness right now. People camping overnight in fear of missing their flights.” Allan Andrade, a frequent traveller, compared the rush to the ones usually seen at the city railway station.
For Udayan Anand, the line of passengers was unmanageably big. "People resting and sleeping on the floor. The airport is now looking like a crowded train station platform,” he said. Akhil Gupta, a fellow traveller, likened the rush to the traffic congestion at Silk Board junction.
However, the airport officials said all the KIA stakeholders had come together to ensure that passengers were not inconvenienced. Refreshments, additional seating, enhanced Wi-Fi and food were provided with augmented staff both at the kerb side and terminal, said a BIAL spokesperson.
The flight delays were reported between 5.55 am and 7.30 am. Of these, eight were Indigo flights and three Air India departures. Many passengers opted to get their relatives drop them to the airport on personal vehicles, although it was risky to travel on Airport road. Normalcy was restored once the taxis started operating after 3.30 pm and BMTC airport buses began plying at 5.50 pm.
Trouble started early at KIA as a group of Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists protested raising slogans just outside the departure terminal. But hundreds of travellers had arrived even before, anticipating travel problems on Friday morning. Huge crowds thronged the terminal both inside and outside, causing severe strain on the airport infrastructure.
Rafiq Somani, who had reached the airport well before 5 am, had this to say: "There is total chaos here with thousands of people either trying to fly out early or sleeping all over. They have been camping here all night. I am worried about fellow passengers, especially the elders and children who are stranded.”
Tweeted another passenger, Dan Husain at 4 am: "Bengaluru airport is madness right now. People camping overnight in fear of missing their flights.” Allan Andrade, a frequent traveller, compared the rush to the ones usually seen at the city railway station.
For Udayan Anand, the line of passengers was unmanageably big. "People resting and sleeping on the floor. The airport is now looking like a crowded train station platform,” he said. Akhil Gupta, a fellow traveller, likened the rush to the traffic congestion at Silk Board junction.
However, the airport officials said all the KIA stakeholders had come together to ensure that passengers were not inconvenienced. Refreshments, additional seating, enhanced Wi-Fi and food were provided with augmented staff both at the kerb side and terminal, said a BIAL spokesperson.
The flight delays were reported between 5.55 am and 7.30 am. Of these, eight were Indigo flights and three Air India departures. Many passengers opted to get their relatives drop them to the airport on personal vehicles, although it was risky to travel on Airport road. Normalcy was restored once the taxis started operating after 3.30 pm and BMTC airport buses began plying at 5.50 pm.