One always wondered at the prices charge for tea and snacks at the airports in India. Even if you ask for a bill, it is often refused. The prices often charged are Rs.100 for a cup of tea, Rs.120 for buttermilk, Rs.200 for snacks.
This extortion has been going on for a few decades now. Only, few could take on the might of the authorities and those who had often failed to get this stopped.
A letter forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi put an end to the huge price of tea and snacks at the airport. According to the prime minister’s direction, tea should be served at Rs 15, coffee at Rs 20 and snacks like Pazhampori, Parippuvada and Meduvada at Rs 15 in airports.
It was Thrissur native Shaji Kodankandathil who forwarded the letter to the prime minister after he was charged Rs.100 for a cup of tea at Kochi International Airport. As the airport authorities refused to resolve the issue, he sent a mail to the prime minister pointing out the issue.
Later, when Shaji checked the prime minister’s portal the other day, he noticed that the new direction to regulate the price of tea and snacks was issued to the airports based on his complaint letter.