Taxi drivers operating from Guwahati's Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) are looking at the recently inaugurated terminal building with renewed hope. They see this major infrastructure upgrade as a crucial opportunity to reverse a decline in their incomes that has persisted for several years.
New Terminal, New Beginnings for Airport Taxis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal on Saturday, with full operations expected to commence by the end of February. The drivers, organized under the Guwahati Airport Taxi Association (GATA), believe that the enhanced facility will lead to an increase in both arrivals and departures. This anticipated rise in passenger traffic, they argue, will directly translate into higher volumes of rides for them, providing a much-needed financial uplift.
The association, representing over 450 drivers who are locals and have been serving the airport since 1987, is set to enter a fresh agreement with the airport authorities in March. In preparation for this, they have put forward key demands to secure their business future.
Core Demands: Priority and Affordable Ride-Sharing
Foremost among their requests is a formal assurance of first preference for ferrying passengers from the airport. The drivers claim this request has already received a positive nod from the authorities. Another critical demand is the retention of the existing ride-sharing system for passengers heading to Guwahati city.
Bhuvaneshwar Nath, the General Secretary of GATA, emphasized the importance of shared rides. "Its removal would place a heavy financial burden on passengers," he stated. "With the sharing system in place, travel costs can be reduced, making transportation more affordable for everyone."
Challenges from Aggregators and Parking Fees
The drivers highlighted intense competition from app-based aggregators like Ola and Uber as the primary reason for their dwindling daily earnings. Nath explained that earlier, each taxi could manage two to three trips daily from the airport. Now, due to the dominance of private players, drivers often return empty-handed.
"Aggregators dominate the market with dynamic pricing, which is usually cheaper than our fixed fares," Nath said. "They drop passengers and also pick up new ones, whereas we lack an online platform. Our fares to Guwahati are around Rs 1,000, as we must cover maintenance and fuel costs."
Adding to their financial strain are parking-related challenges. Each trip currently requires a payment of a Rs 120 parking toll. While drivers who fail to secure a passenger are allowed to leave without paying, the fee per successful trip cuts into their profits. The association had previously negotiated a reduction from fees ranging between Rs 500-600 down to Rs 150, and now to Rs 120, but they continue to seek more relief.
As the new terminal gears up for full-scale operations, the taxi drivers of Guwahati airport are positioning themselves to be an integral part of the improved travel ecosystem, hoping that modernization brings fairness and sustainability for their long-standing service.
