Flat fares to CG Road or Gandhinagar after a 1:00 am landing
The Prepaid Taxi Counter at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) sits inside the arrivals hall of both T1 and T2, just before the sliding doors to the public area. It runs 24/7 and sells fixed‑fare coupons to central Ahmedabad areas like CG Road, SG Highway and to Gandhinagar, so you pay once at the desk and hand the slip to the driver outside.
Fares from AMD to core city spots such as Ashram Road or CG Road often run roughly 400–700 INR, with Gandhinagar higher depending on sector, and frequent flyers report paying about 2x an Ola/Uber rate for the same route. You pay the counter, not the driver, and then match your coupon number with a taxi in the assigned lane right outside arrivals.
The counter officially takes cards, but frequent AMD guides mention card machines failing or “offline” messages several times a week. Regulars recommend landing with at least 1,000–1,500 INR cash per taxi booked, especially on late‑night arrivals when ATMs in T1/T2 can be out of cash or closed.
Multiple Skytrax‑style reviews call the service “overpriced but handy” after a midnight or 2:00 am arrival, comparing a ~600 INR prepaid fare vs ~300 INR on an app cab the next day. The trade: you walk straight from baggage claim to the booth and usually get rolling in 10–15 minutes without waiting on driver acceptance or surge pricing.
You’ll see the official taxi booths before the customs exit; once you step into the public zone, some reviewers report touts pushing unmetered cabs and quoting flat numbers like 1,000–1,500 INR to SG Highway. If you want the official rate, buy at the booth first, keep the printed slip, and ignore anyone trying to “upgrade” your car outside.
Common complaints: cars from the prepaid stand often turn out to be older sedans with weak AC, especially at T1 domestic, and can feel tired compared with the newer Ola/Uber vehicles people take later in the trip. Some riders also mention minor upsell attempts for “luggage charges” of 50–100 INR; the desk fare already covers standard bags.
Regular AMD flyers say they only touch the prepaid counter when landing post‑midnight or with no mobile data; otherwise they exit T1/T2, move to the pickup area and book Ola/Uber on 4G. Tip: if your flight lands after 11:00 pm and you’re not sure your SIM or eSIM will activate, stop at an airport ATM, pull cash, and buy the prepaid slip inside before walking out.
- Step 1: After baggage claim in T1 or T2, walk toward the exit and locate the “Prepaid Taxi” booth inside the arrivals hall.
- Step 2: Tell the clerk your destination (e.g., SG Highway, Satellite, Gandhinagar Sector 10); ask for the printed fare in INR.
- Step 3: Pay in cash first choice; try card only if you have no rupees and confirm the machine is working.
- Step 4: Take the coupon with your taxi number and fare clearly printed; don’t hand it to anyone inside the terminal.
- Step 5: Exit to the designated taxi lane outside arrivals, match the number on your slip with the car, and only then give the driver the coupon.
- Step 6: Confirm the destination again in English or Hindi, load bags, and ride; at drop‑off, you shouldn’t pay anything extra unless you knowingly agreed to tolls.
One last tip: screenshot your hotel address with pin and phone number over Wi‑Fi in the terminal; it saves 5–10 minutes of confusion with drivers on late‑night rides from AMD into the city.