India’s first ‘affordable food outlet’, the UDAN Yatri Cafe, has garnered positive response from travellers at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport. Located in the departure area, the cafe has attracted approximately 900 daily visitors in its first month. It offers tea for just Rs 10, a stark contrast to the higher prices at other airport outlets. Since its launch, the cafe has served around 27,000 passengers, as confirmed by an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson.
UDAN Yatri Cafe: A Step Towards Affordable Air Travel and Food at Airports
The cafe, which was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on December 21 during the airport’s centenary celebrations, aims to make air travel more affordable. Minister Naidu expressed his satisfaction with the positive response, emphasizing that the cafe supports his vision of making air travel accessible to all Indians. Managed by a private company, the cafe offers other affordable options, including a bottle of water for Rs 10, and coffee, sweets, and samosas for just Rs 20 each.
The cafe’s success has sparked interest in opening similar low-cost outlets at other airports across India. This initiative came in response to complaints from passengers about the high cost of food at airports. A nationwide survey conducted by LocalCircles revealed that many airline passengers feel airport food prices are excessively high, often double or triple what they would pay at restaurants, retail stores, or railway stations.
Survey Highlights High Airport Food Prices and Government’s Affordability Efforts
The survey, which gathered responses from more than 28,000 passengers, revealed that 60% of travellers reported food prices at airports being 100-200% higher than those at railway stations. This initiative not only tackles the affordability challenge but also highlights the government’s dedication to improving the travel experience for passengers nationwide.
