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New Delhi: The issue of expensive food at all airports in the country has been a cause of trouble for passengers for a long time. In this winter session of Parliament, Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha raised this issue strongly and highlighted the problem of water, tea and snacks being available at expensive prices at airports. The result of his efforts was that now the government has taken cognizance of this issue and has planned to start “Udaan Yatri Café”. It will be started from Kolkata Airport, where food will be provided at cheap rates.
Will start from Kolkata Airport
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has announced that the “Udaan Yatri Café” will be started at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Although this will be a pilot project, it will later be implemented at other airports of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Water bottles, tea, coffee and snacks will be available at reasonable prices in this café, which will provide great relief to the passengers.
Emphasis on the need for affordable facilities
MP Raghav Chadha expressed happiness over this and called it a positive step. He said, “Finally the government has heard the call of the common people. Even though it has started from Kolkata Airport, he hopes that it will soon be implemented at other airports in the country as well. After which the citizens of our country traveling by air will not have to spend up to Rs 100-250 for water, tea or coffee at airports.” He further said, “This is inconvenient for common passengers. The government should ensure that passengers get better facilities at a reasonable price.”
The issue was raised in Parliament
Raising the issue of expensive food at airports, MP Raghav Chadha had said in Parliament that passengers at the country’s airports have to face a lot of trouble due to overpriced food and poor management. He had said, “A bottle of water is available at airports for Rs 100. Even a cup of tea has to cost Rs 200-250. Can’t the government start cheap and reasonably priced canteens at airports?” He had said, “The condition of our airports has now become worse than bus stands. Due to long queues, overcrowding and disorganized management, passengers are disappointed at the beginning of their journey itself.”
His speech received applause from the people
When MP Raghav Chadha raised the voice of the common man in Parliament, people on social media praised his initiative and called it the voice of the common man’s heart. His speech made a lot of headlines on social media platforms. Even Counselor Konchok Stanzin of Chushul, adjacent to the China border in Ladakh, supported him and wrote on his X account, “Ladakhis face a lot of challenges due to expensive tickets, especially during winters when we are cut off from the rest. Air connectivity is our only option, yet affordable fares remain a distant dream.”
“Even a person wearing Bata shoes cannot travel by air”
While discussing the Indian Aircraft Bill 2024 in Parliament, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha had said, “The government had promised that those wearing slippers will be allowed to travel by plane, but the opposite is happening. Today, forget slippers, even those wearing Bata shoes cannot afford air travel.” He had said, “In just one year, air travel fares have increased tremendously, which has increased the burden on the common people.” Giving an example, he said that the ticket prices on common routes like Delhi to Mumbai and Patna have reached Rs 10,000 to Rs 14,500. At the same time, giving the example of Maldives, he said that on the one hand the government is promoting Lakshadweep as a tourist destination instead of Maldives, but the fare of Maldives is Rs 17 thousand, while the fare of Lakshadweep is Rs 25 thousand.
