Festival fares rise as taxis cash in on holiday getaway craze in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: As the festive season kicks in, taxi services in Bengaluru are reporting a significant increase in bookings for three to four-day trips to popular tourist destinations like Madikeri, Wayanad, Mysuru and Ooty.

Taking advantage of extended holidays, many travellers are opting for scenic getaways to nearby spots. Demand has been strong for destinations like Chikkamagaluru, Sringeri, Horanadu, Kukke Subramanya, Dharmasthala, and Murudeshwara, according to local taxi operators.

However, some travellers prefer weekday trips to avoid crowds. “Weekend trips tend to be busier, so many people are choosing weekdays for a more peaceful experience,” said Karthik, who operates a local taxi service.

With the holiday rush, rates for these trips have risen slightly, especially for air-conditioned sedans and SUVs.

“Sedans normally cost around Rs 12 per kilometre, while SUVs like the Innova go for Rs 17. But during festivals like Dasara, due to limited driver availability, we’ve had to raise prices by Rs 1 to Rs 3 per kilometre,” explained Venkatesh of a tours and travels company in Girinagar.

Airport taxi services are also experiencing a surge in demand.

Wega Cabs, an airport taxi service, offers a base rate of Rs 699 for trips between 25 to 30 kilometres, with an additional Rs 20 per kilometre beyond that. During festival times, prices increase by about Rs 100.

Kumar, from another taxi provider, noted that trips from Electronics City to the airport range between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,700, while trips from Hebbal typically cost around Rs 800. “We usually charge about Rs 100 more during the festival season,” he said.