Days of the coffee and tea shops in the country’s airports charging exorbitant rates for the hot beverages are over thanks to an initiative by a lawyer based in Kerala’s Thrissur city.
Shaji Kodankandathu, a lawyer by profession who is also a social activist had taken up the cudgels for the general public in this regard. Shaji asked the Cochin International Airport Authority of India Ltd (CIAL) Airport about the reason behind the unbelievable prices charged by the shops for tea and coffee. “A cup of coffee costs Rs 200/- while a cup of tea costs Rs 150/- and there is no justification for these prices. The airport authorities could not give any convincing reply to me questions,” Shaji told The Pioneer.
He said he had to give up meals and even snacks while waiting to catch flights after the security check in. “I am not that rich to spend Rs 500 for a cup of coffee and a banana fry. Its only because of time constraint that I travel by flight and the authorities should not squeeze me,” he said.
When Shaji failed to get any response from the Airport Authority of India, he wrote to Prime Minister’s Office stating all the details. “I was surprised when I received a letter from the PMO saying that all my concerns have been taken into consideration and the AAI have been instructed to sell tea, coffee and snacks at affordable rates,” said Shaji.
The lawyer said that there are thousands of passengers among the flyers who would not be able to afford the tea and coffee being sold at the shops on the airport. “What we need is a cup of black tea or coffee and a samosa or something like that bat affordable rate. There is nothing which prevents these shops from selling these items at this rate,” said Shaji who also disclosed that he has seen hundreds and hundreds of passengers starving at airport because they cannot afford such high rates.
“Its not exotic or exquisite tea or coffee that they sell at these airports. Most people do not react to such over pricing because it is a time consuming process. But Ill react because it is a matter of survival for me,” said Shaji.
He said airports all over the country may have to sell the hot beverages and snacks at the rate specified by Coffee Board or Tea Board.