Tea at Rs 10, Samosa at Rs 20: UDAN Yatri Cafe expands to 24 airports
Airport food has long been a pain point for budget-conscious travellers, but the government’s UDAN Yatri Cafe initiative is now trying to change that. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has expanded the low-cost food counter model to 24 airports across India, bringing basics like tea for Rs 10, water for Rs 10 and samosas for Rs 20 to more flyers.
The move is aimed at making air travel feel a little less expensive once passengers step inside the terminal. While airfare competition has widened access to flying, food and beverages at airports have often remained noticeably costlier than outside. The UDAN Yatri Cafe model is designed to address that gap with a fixed low-price menu.
Which airports now have UDAN Yatri Cafe?
As per the last updated list, there is UDAN Yatri Cafe available in the following 24 airports: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vijayawada, Hollongi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Mangaluru, Rajkot, Chandigarh, Jammu, Patna, Indore, Amritsar, Varanasi, Gwalior, Agartala, Jaipur, and Lucknow.
UDAN Yatri Cafe was first inaugurated in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata on December 19, 2024. From there, the initiative slowly started spreading to various airports across India as part of a larger effort to provide improved passenger सुविधा.
What is available on the menu?
The low-cost pricing model that comes under the scheme includes water bottles priced at Rs 10, tea at Rs 10, coffee at Rs 20, samosa at Rs 20, and “sweet of the day” at Rs 20. Similarly, documents tendered by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on the UDAN Yatri Cafe include the same low-cost pricing norms.
It is one of the key reasons behind the popularity of the scheme on social media platforms. In an era where even basic beverages in the airport can be expensive, the prospect of enjoying tea at Rs 10 and food at Rs 20 becomes very attractive.
Why this matters
The expansion of UDAN Yatri Cafe is not just about cheaper snacks. It also fits into the government’s larger messaging around making aviation more inclusive and accessible. Under the broader UDAN framework, the focus has been on bringing more people into the air travel ecosystem. Affordable food at terminals helps reinforce that pitch, especially for first-time and price-sensitive travellers.
A written response in Parliament also indicated that such low-cost outlets are being introduced at several airports, including some under PPP models, though the rollout at individual airports can depend on the operator.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available reports and government-related announcements regarding the UDAN Yatri Cafe initiative. Details such as pricing, airport availability, and rollout may change over time depending on airport operators and official updates. Readers are advised to verify with official sources before making travel-related decisions.
