Bengaluru: The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru clarified that there have been no changes in their flight information display system after reports of Hindi's omission from its signages sparked social media debates.
In a statement shared with The Free Press Journal, a BIAL spokesperson said, "There has been no change in our flight information display system. In line with established practices the displays continue to feature English and Kannada to effectively assist passengers. Additionally, the way finding signages throughout the terminals are displayed in English, Kannada, and Hindi."
The speculations surfaced after a video, initially posted on X (formerly Twitter), featuring the airport display boards operating without any Hindi text went viral, amassing over 2 million views.
Several netizens raising concerns over accessibility and inclusivity at the international travel hub.
While some users supported the promotion of the regional language, others questioned the exclusion of Hindi, one of India’s most widely spoken languages.
Netizens argued that such a decision could make navigation difficult for non-Kannada and non-English speakers. “Do you think only those who know English and Kannada visit Bengaluru? While it may be understandable not to have Hindi at metro stations, it should certainly be present at airports and railway stations,” one user commented.
Another called out what they saw as inconsistency in the policy and wrote, “While the Dubai Crown Prince tweets in Hindi to show respect for India, some of our own citizens disregard Hindi, even though it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world."
Have a look at some other reactions here:
Some users argued that travel hubs like airports should focus on accessibility rather than language politics. “As much as I oppose the imposition of Hindi, removing it from travel hubs like airports and railway stations is unwise. These places should facilitate travel, not complicate it for people,” another netizen wrote.
