Tea for Rs 10 and breakfast for Rs 20 at the airport! Raghav Chadha raised demand for expansion of ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ in Parliament:

New Delhi, Bureau.A good news is coming for the passengers who pay huge prices for a bottle of water or cup of tea at the airports. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha strongly raised the issue of this burden on the pockets of air passengers in Parliament on Monday. He praised the government’s ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ initiative, but expressed concern over its limited expansion and demanded that it be implemented compulsorily at every small and big airport in the country.

Affordable food is not a luxury, it is a basic convenience: Raghav Chadha

While speaking in the Upper House, Raghav Chadha said that for a long time, passengers have been complaining about the expensive food and beverages available at the airport. He insisted that “Having cheap and affordable food at the airport is not a luxury, but a basic amenity for travellers.” According to Chadha, middle-class travelers often shy away from buying anything after seeing airport prices, which needs a replacement.

“I feel most hungry only after check-in”

Giving a practical suggestion to the government, MP Chadha said that currently these cafes are mostly located in the ‘pre-check-in’ area (before the security check). He demanded that:

Cafes should be in the departure area: These should be opened in the waiting area after security check, because passengers spend most of their time there.

Freedom from long queues: Due to shortage of counters during peak hours, long queues form, which need to be increased.

Variety in menu: He also suggested increasing the menu options so that passengers have more choices.

150 airport, but cafe only 12?

Citing statistics, Raghav Chadha said that currently there are more than 150 airports operating in India, but the facility of ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ is limited to only 10 to 12 airports. He urged the government to implement this scheme widely so that air travelers in every corner of the country can avail its benefits.

What is ‘Udaan Yatri Cafe’ scheme?

The aim of this government initiative, which started in February 2026, is to end the monopoly of food items at airports. Under this scheme, passengers get snacks at very affordable rates:

Tea and water: Rs 10 only.

Coffee and snacks: Just Rs 20.

This initiative is proving to be a boon for those passengers who avoid going to expensive restaurants at the airport.