After Kolkata, Chennai Gets ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’; Raghav Chadha Highlights His Push For Affordable Airport Canteens
AAP MP Raghav Chadha hailed the opening of Udaan Yatri Cafe in Chennai airport, offering affordable food for common air travelers. He highlighted his plea in Rajya Sabha to establish such canteens.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday welcomed the inauguration of affordable canteen facilities at airports, with the latest ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ opening at Chennai airport. He congratulated all those who contributed to this initiative, which aims to make air travel more accessible for common citizens.
Chadha took to social media to express his happiness over the move and shared a picture of the newly opened subsidised canteen at Chennai airport. "A small spark can light up the darkest skies… First Kolkata, now Chennai! Glad to see affordable food canteens being set up at airports. Grateful to everyone who supported my demand for affordable food and drinks at airports. Congratulations to each one of you—every drop together makes the ocean rise," he posted on X.
"I shall continue to raise issues of public interest. Keep sending me your suggestions," he added, sharing a video of his Rajya Sabha address where he raised the issue of inflated prices at airports.
A small spark can light up the darkest skies…
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) February 28, 2025
First Kolkata, now Chennai!
Glad to see affordable food canteens being set up at Airports. Grateful to everyone who supported my demand for affordable food and drinks at airports. Congratulations to each one of you - every drop… pic.twitter.com/EN8L1ESYnL
The cafe, located at the T1 domestic terminal of Chennai airport, offers essential refreshments at nominal prices. A water bottle is available for ₹10, tea for ₹10, coffee for ₹20, and snacks such as samosas and sweets for ₹20 each.
Udaan Yatri Cafe Cafe In Kolkata
The first ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ was launched at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on 19 December last year, coinciding with the airport’s centenary celebrations. As per reports, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is now keen on expanding these affordable canteens across Airports Authority of India (AAI)-controlled terminals to enhance the passenger experience.
'Water Bottle Costs ₹100 Inside Airport, Tea Priced At ₹250': When Raghav Chadha Called For Affordable Canteens
Notably, the move to introduce budget-friendly cafes at airports followed Chadha’s call for action against exorbitant food prices at airport eateries. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, he had highlighted the plight of travellers who were compelled to pay inflated rates. "Food and snacks become two-three times more expensive at airports. A water bottle that normally costs ₹20 costs ₹100 inside the airport, people waiting for their flights keep drinking water to avoid paying for tea priced at ₹250 and samosa that costs ₹350. Can’t the government bring in a mechanism to regulate this? Can’t affordable canteens be set up at airports?" he had asked in Parliament.
During the Winter Session of Parliament, Chadha had also criticised the poor management of airports, comparing them to bus stands due to long queues, overcrowding, and disorganisation.
Additionally, he voiced concerns over the sharp rise in airfares, pointing out the contradiction between the government’s stated goal of making air travel accessible. "The government promised that people in slippers would fly, but now even those wearing Bata shoes can’t afford air travel," he said in Parliament. Highlighting the disparity in airfare pricing, he added, "A ticket to Maldives costs ₹17,000, but a ticket to Lakshadweep, which the government is promoting as a tourist destination, costs ₹25,000."
With the expansion of affordable canteens at airports, the initiative is expected to provide much-needed relief to air travellers facing soaring prices.
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