Chennai Airport shifts cab pickup to ground floor of parking facility

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has modified the cab pick-up arrangement at Chennai airport, allowing passengers to board taxis on the ground floor of the multi-level car parking facility instead of the second floor. The change, which has been implemented to ease the boarding process, provides relief to arriving passengers who previously faced long delays waiting for elevators to reach the upper floor.

Under the previous system, passengers arriving at the airport had to walk or take a buggy vehicle to the multi-level car parking facility. Once inside the building, they were required to use the elevators to reach the second floor to board their booked cabs. This circuitous arrangement drew consistent criticism from passengers over several months.

Ram K., a frequent flyer, described the difficulties of the previous arrangement. "After getting off the buggy vehicle, I have waited for quite some time to get into the elevator. Though there are a couple of elevators available, the problem is, each one can accommodate only a handful of passengers with large baggage. So, I have ended up waiting for a long time to get into the elevator and reach the second floor. I’m relieved I no longer have to go through this hassle," he said.

The ground-floor boarding option is a temporary measure designed to assist passengers while AAI works to open a new, permanent pick-up plaza opposite the T1 domestic terminal. Although construction of the renovated covered plaza was completed in January after a delay of more than a year, legal hurdles have prevented it from opening.

According to AAI officials, approval to open the new plaza is expected within two weeks. Once approved, the plaza will serve as a second cab pick-up point. In the meantime, airport staff have been stationed at the multi-level car parking facility to direct passengers and assist them with boarding taxis on the ground floor.