Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport has witnessed overwhelming response to its first and only affordable food outlet, UDAN Yatri Cafe, with a daily footfall of approximately 900 passengers in its first month of operation.
The cafe, which offers tea for as little as Rs 10, contrasts significantly with other outlets within the airport, where prices are many times higher.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson stated, “The footfall at the cafe has been around 900 per day and is growing.”
Since its inauguration by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on December 21 last year during the centenary celebrations of Kolkata airport, the cafe has served around 27,000 passengers.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, highlighting its significance in making air travel more affordable. “Since the day I took oath as Civil Aviation Minister, my mission has been to make air travel more affordable and accessible for every Indian,” he said in a post on X.
“The UDAN Yatri Cafe at Kolkata Airport, India’s first affordable food outlet at an airport, is a significant step in that direction,” Naidu added.
Operated by a private company, the cafe offers basic items at cost-effective prices—bottle of water for Rs 10, coffee, sweetmeats, and a samosa for Rs 20 each.
Sources indicate that the ministry of civil aviation, in collaboration with AAI, established the cafe after receiving numerous complaints about overpriced food items at airport terminals.
A recent survey highlighted the excessive pricing at airports, revealing that 60 per cent of airline passengers were charged 100-200 per cent more for food and beverages compared to railway stations.
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