Navigating the airport commute challenge in Bengaluru Premium

KIA, Bengaluru's 3rd busiest airport, handled 31.9M passengers in FY 2022-2023. To get there, commuters have 2 public transport options: BMTC's Vayu Vajra bus & SWR's MEMU train. The Hindu conducted an experiment to assess the journey from the city centre to the airport, taking 3 modes of transport. Train was cheapest, but had low occupancy & long journey time. Bus was smooth, but had few passengers. Car was fastest, but most expensive. Traffic was slow-moving, but not at a standstill.

The third busiest in the country, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) — Bengaluru’s international airport — handled 31.91 million passengers in FY 2022-2023. However, getting to the airport, about 30-40 km away from the city, is fraught with the city’s infamous traffic jams, making the journey a frustrating experience.

At present, public transport to the airport is available in two options: the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporations’ (BMTC) airport AC bus service (Vayu Vajra), and the railways’ MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains. Alternatively, commuters can choose to drive their own vehicles or opt for taxis, as Bengaluru awaits metro connectivity, slated for opening in 2026.

The Hindu conducted an experiment to assess the commuting experience from the city centre to the airport, a journey that typically takes over an hour. Three reporters made the journey on August 6 from Majestic, a central transportation hub in Bengaluru that includes a main bus station and railway station.

They engaged with commuters to gather insights into their airport journeys. The distance from Majestic to Bengaluru airport is approximately 35 km by road, while the train route covers a distance of 45 km.

The reporters used three different modes of transportation: train, BMTC airport bus service, and car.

The train journey from Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna station in Majestic started at 8.35 a.m. The train goes to Kolar and has a stop at the KIA. The journey began on time, but as has been the case since the service’s launch, the train had poor occupancy; only around 50 passengers were on board, and the coach in which the reporter and photojournalist were seated was entirely vacant. The train journey is the cheapest among the available options: ₹15 per passenger. Within just eight minutes, the train arrived at the Cantonment station, where a few more passengers boarded.

Ramakrishna Naidu, a frequent passenger on the train route to Kolar, said there are very few travellers opting for the train to the airport. He believes it might be because of the railway authorities’ limited efforts in promoting the service. “It could also be due to the inconvenience of switching modes from train to shuttle bus at the halt station. People might find it cumbersome, especially if they have a lot of luggage.” Naidu also said the frequency of trains to the airport is quite low.