Domestic passengers to pay UDF from today

Domestic passengers to pay UDF from today
Bangalore, DHNS:

Even as domestic air passengers prepared to pay an additional Rs 260 as User Development Fee (UDF) to the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) from Friday, the matter has reached the High Court.

The Court’s Division Bench headed by Deepak Varma will be taking up an interlocutory application filed by G R Mohan and others challenging the levy of the UDF. The petitioner had contended that the UDF will be an additional burden on the already harassed passengers. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had permitted BIAL to collect an ad hoc UDF of Rs 260 (including taxes) from domestic passengers starting January 16. All domestic passengers departing from the Devanahalli-based BIA would have to pay that fee irrespective of the date of booking or purchase of ticket.

Passengers could obtain the UDF receipt at the counters located in front of the departure hall of the terminal building at the airport. The BIAL’s move to levy UDF on domestic passengers had earlier met with strong protests from different quarters.


As the airport is located far away from the city, passengers have to spend at least Rs 500 on taxis to reach the airport. The move to impose UDF had thus angered the passengers who were already feeling the pinch.