Chennai airport passengers have complained that cab drivers demand payments above app-displayed fares, cancel bookings when riders refuse, and wait for surge pricing to push up the cost of trips from the airport.
Passengers quoted in the report said the practice becomes particularly difficult when large numbers of travellers leave the terminals at the same time. P Gopal, a businessman and frequent flyer, said drivers take advantage of the demand for cabs by asking for additional money. If passengers refuse, he said, the ride is cancelled and a fresh booking often shows a higher fare because of increased demand.
The complaints point to a gap between the fare displayed through ride-hailing platforms and the price passengers are ultimately pressured to pay at the airport. Travellers said some drivers ask for extra payments after accepting the booking, while others cancel rides and wait for fares to rise before taking another passenger.
Rajesh C, another frequent flyer, said he had stopped using app-based cabs from the airport and now hires vehicles from a private travel operator. He said the alternative costs more but avoids negotiations with drivers. However, private operators are not permitted to pick up passengers at the new plaza, requiring travellers to walk to the multi-level parking lot to board their vehicles.
Passengers have also questioned the effect of airport access and parking arrangements on cab fares. Some drivers reportedly cite high parking fees when demanding additional payments. One passenger said a journey of about 10 km between the airport and Tambaram was being quoted at around ₹1,000 by some aggregators. Another complaint involved drivers asking for a tip after passengers had boarded.
The reported problem places airport passengers in a difficult position because refusing a ride can mean waiting again with luggage, while accepting an extra charge may be the only practical way to leave the terminal. The situation also raises questions about how airports, aggregators, parking operators and transport authorities monitor pickup operations and enforce the terms shown to customers at the time of booking.
Passengers can report alleged overcharging to the relevant cab aggregator, prepaid taxi service or the parking licensee. The report also lists complaint channels for the Airports Authority of India, including pgo_chennai@aai.aero and apdchennai@aai.aero. The listed aggregator and service contacts include WTI Cabs, Uber, Ola, Fast Track, Rapido and prepaid taxi services.
The complaint channels are intended to provide passengers with a route to report fare disputes and other pickup-related problems at Chennai airport. The report does not establish whether authorities have initiated a wider enforcement action or changed the airport’s pickup policy.
