The food stalls at the Coimbatore International Airport charges raise for the foods sold there, and the public have requested that the Prime Minister Modi take immediate steps in this regard to make sure food sold at Airports all over the country at amicable costs.
Coimbatore: The surplus charge levied on food items sold at Internal Airport in Coimbatore has called in the immediate attention of Indian Prime Minister.
The Coimbatore International Airport is benefitting the people of 7 districts of Coimbatore and surrounding areas. Flights are available to various domestic cities as well as to three international countries. About 30 lakh passengers are using the Coimbatore airport every year. Various food shops are being set up on MoU basis to help out passengers arriving at the Airport. However, the passengers from Coimbatore have requested the Prime Minister to take steps to ensure that food items are sold at a lower price to them at all airports in the country following a complaint that the prices of items sold at such restaurants have gone up erratically.
Muthu Venkatram, President of the Coimbatore Gold Jewellers' Association who flies to various cities within the country and to foreign destinations for business reasons, has stated that sons, the prices of food items sold in restaurants operating at the Coimbatore airport are very high. "A set of idlis is sold for Rs.100. Two idlis are being sold at the airport at 60 per cent higher price as compared to the price at restaurants in Coimbatore city."
The other side has stated that they are forced to charge high to meet their rental needs. Muthu added that, commuting through flights was earlier restricted only to the wealthy people, while the aviation sector has grown so that people from middle-class families can also travel by air. Therefore, keeping all this in mind, he has requested the Central Government to take steps for the middle class to get and consume food items at reasonable prices at the airports.
"We have sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the Union Civil Aviation Minister requesting them to take this complaint from Coimbatore as an example and inspect all airports in the country and ensure that food items are sold at a lower price. It is unacceptable that two idlis are being sold at the Coimbatore airport to match the rising prices of petrol and diesel. Our expectation is that steps should be taken to bring down the prices."
Jayaraman, president of Citizens Voice Coimbatore, stated that restaurants has to be set up in the Airports for both the sectors where, people who can spend high for food shall have a separate restaurant and for others a restaurant that sells food at amicable prices, as passengers cannot carry packed food in flights, like they travel through other transports.
He stated that, "The Airport should meet the food requirement of the passengers" The Centre should take steps to ensure availability of food items at affordable prices to passengers at airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and at airports that have been permitted to be maintained by private parties.
"It is the expectation of the passengers that the issue should be examined and necessary action should be taken."