Bangalore Airport - UDF (User Development Fee)

Recently, I had been to Bangalore Airport and was charged a UDF or User Development Fee. An amount of 260 Indian Rupees is charged to the poor traveler who is then allowed to enter the airport by producing a receipt. This is stamped and Viola! Your in the airport. Couple of things annoyed me. One, I was late owing to the traffic in outer ring road. Two it rained and the power was switched off in the city making it even worse in many ways for my cab driver to navigate through the roads. Three I have to stand in a "Q" pay the UDF get a receipt and then get it stamped at the entrance and then move in. All the while at the back of my head I had the fear of missing my not so low cost airline!

Once I was in and got myself checked in, I decided to make a visit to the washrooms. The once before the security check areas were under "Cleaning in Processes" and once I passed security check, I rushed to the nearest one next to the food stalls.I was stunned to find all the Urinals were flooded with Urine and they were in a bad state. Some were broken and others had cracks in them.

So hmmm... where is my UDF going was my next thought?

So here goes a simple math about the not so anymore economical cheap airfare and the new swanky airports -

Base Fare - INR 425
Taxes & Fees - INR 3,178
Add UDF - INR 260
Equals - INR 3,863

Now top this all with the airport food stalls charging INR 110 for a Dosa!!! WOW!! It is all about MONEY HONEY!!