Fliers ferried to stations by bus

For about 20 minutes on Tuesday morning, Manoj Panicker, a Kochi-based businessman shuttled between Mumbai airport’s two domestic terminals with a trolley carrying three large bags and his son in his arms looking for a taxi before. Finally, he called a relative for help.

For about 20 minutes on Tuesday morning, Manoj Panicker, a Kochi-based businessman shuttled between Mumbai airport’s two domestic terminals with a trolley carrying three large bags and his son in his arms looking for a taxi before. Finally, he called a relative for help.

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The 42-year-old was amongst several travellers who landed in the city amidst a flash strike by a section of taximen and rickshaw drivers.

Fliers arriving at the airport in the wee hours were the first to be affected. “Rickshaws and taxis stopped plying from midnight on Monday. Many passengers were stranded in the dead of the night,” said an airport official requesting anonymity.

The airport operator arranged for 50-seater buses as a contingency measure to drop passengers to nearby railway stations such as Kurla, Andheri and Vile Parle. But with a mere two buses at the international terminals and four at the domestic end, hundreds were forced to join long queues.

“The service is a saviour, but squeezing into a bus with luggage is horrible,” said Priyesh Dalal, a passenger.