New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha said that his efforts were in reducing the prices of food and beverages at airports paid off after the government’s introduction of the affordable Udaan Yatri Cafe. Earlier, Chadha had raised concerns in Parliament about the high prices of food and drinks at airports, which led to the launch of the initiative, as said in his announcement.
The first Udaan Yatri Cafe has been set up at Kolkata airport. It provides reasonably priced water, tea and snacks to flyers. Chadha also reminded the government of its commitment to making air travel more affordable, pointing out that the increasing costs have made it difficult for ordinary citizens to afford flights.
‘Change brewing’
“Glad to see the change brewing! After I highlighted the issue of food affordability at airports during this Winter Session of Parliament, tea prices at Kolkata Airport have been reduced. This is a win for us citizens, and I take pride in being the catalyst for this change. Hope more airports will follow this example and price food items more reasonably. Which issues should I raise in the next session?” the AAP MP said in a post on X.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced the launch of the ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport as a pilot project. If the initiative proves successful, it will be expanded to other airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Chadha draws attention to huge prices
In his Parliament speech, Chadha drew attention to the problem of passengers who are forced to pay huge prices for food and drinks at airports. “A bottle of water costs Rs 100 and tea is priced at Rs 200-250. Why can’t the government set up affordable canteens at airports?” he asked.
He also criticised the poor management of airports, comparing them to bus stands due to long queues, overcrowding and lack of organisation. Chadha’s comment was widely praised on social media, with many applauding him as a voice for the common man, the AAP said. Konchok Stanzin, a counselor from Ladakh’s Chushul, supported Chadha. He spoke about the challenges faced by Ladakhis due to expensive air travel, especially in winter when they are isolated from the rest of the country.
While discussing the Indian Aviation Bill 2024, Chadha said, “The government promised that people in slippers would fly, but now even those wearing Bata shoes can’t afford air travel.” He pointed to a sharp rise in airfares over the past year, which has become a burden on the common people. For example, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Patna routes now cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 14,500.
