A bill of the famous Rameshwaram Cafe located at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has gone viral on social media. In this, ₹ 315 has been charged for one plate of idli. This incident has sparked a new debate on the high prices of food and drinks at the airport.
Bengaluru: One thing is said about Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) of Silicon City Bengaluru that there is bound to be a loose pocket there. Now this has been proven true once again. A bill of the famous ‘Rameshwaram Cafe’ located at Terminal-1 of the airport is going viral on social media, which has sparked a huge debate on the prices of food items. Here a customer had to pay Rs 315 for just one plate of ‘Ghee Podi Idli’, after which he expressed his anger.
What is the whole matter?
Around February 23-24, a customer shared a photo of the bill on the social media platform Reddit. He told that in other branches of Rameshwaram Cafe in the city, the same Ghee Podi Idli is available for around Rs 90. But its price at the airport is almost 4 times more, i.e. Rs 315. Customers were surprised to see such a huge difference in prices and raised the question, ‘Is there no control on airport prices?’
Arguments in favor (justifying the price increase)
Many people took the side of the hotel owners. One user wrote, ‘The rent for the shop at the airport is lakhs of rupees every month. If such a heavy rent, electricity bill and staff salary has to be paid then the prices will definitely be high. This is not a railway station, it is an airport. Some people even said, ‘It is your own choice.’ If it seems expensive then don’t eat or take food from home.
Arguments in opposition (in favor of customers)
On the other hand, common travelers have called this price ‘looting’. People say, ‘Food is an essential thing, not a luxury item.’ When the flight is late or in case of any emergency, passengers have to spend 3-4 hours at the airport. In such a situation, where is the justice in asking for Rs 300 for a plate of idli? Many people expressed regret that eating and drinking at the airport has now become a dream for the middle class.
expense accounting
According to a user, the transport cost of the staff to and from the airport, which is 40 kilometers away from Bengaluru city, is also very high. Additionally, running a business on airport premises requires adhering to strict security regulations. All these things affect food prices. Overall, this incident has once again exposed the gap between open market rates at international airports and the pockets of common people.