Pune Airport Launches Inclusive Affordable Food Outlets
Pune International Airport has unveiled a new initiative aimed at making airport dining accessible to everyday travellers. The recently opened Udaan Yatri Café offers tea at Rs 10 and popular snacks such as samosas, vada pav, and sweets at Rs 20, significantly lower than conventional airport pricing. The move has drawn public attention as a rare example of citizen-focused affordability in aviation infrastructure.
Urban planners and transport economists note that airport services have historically been high-cost due to captive demand, operational expenses, and commercial concessions. By contrast, budget-friendly outlets such as Udaan Yatri Café can encourage wider utilisation of airport facilities, supporting inclusive economic participation and equitable access for middle-income passengers. A senior airport official explained that the scheme aligns with national efforts to integrate social equity into transport hubs.
The café is part of a broader government-led effort to standardise affordable food services across airports under the UDAN scheme, which aims to enhance regional connectivity while promoting cost-effective travel. Current locations include Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Itanagar, and Vijayawada, with planned expansion to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Observers suggest that such initiatives could stimulate local micro-economies, including small food vendors and allied service providers, creating downstream economic benefits within the urban ecosystem. From a sustainability perspective, the initiative also presents an opportunity to rethink airport operations. Affordable, standardised menus reduce food wastage by setting predictable demand patterns, while centralised sourcing and simplified offerings may decrease the carbon footprint of airport food services. Urban development experts argue that embedding such practices into transport infrastructure contributes to broader climate resilience goals, particularly in high-traffic metropolitan hubs like Pune.
The public response has been largely positive, with social media engagement highlighting both surprise and approval over the affordability of staple items. Analysts note that civic engagement and transparency in service delivery can enhance trust in urban infrastructure projects, bridging the gap between citizens and public amenities. Looking ahead, experts recommend monitoring the long-term viability of low-cost airport concessions to balance operational sustainability with social inclusivity. If successful, similar models could be replicated in other high-cost urban environments, from railway stations to business districts, offering residents equitable access to essential services while reinforcing the broader goals of people-first city planning.
