Chennai: Airports Authority of India (AAI) may be gearing up to set up new retail shops, including those that will sell packaged food, but these shops will not be allowed to bottled water, at Chennai airport.
This will mean that shops at the airport will continue to sell bottled water at an expensive rate as there will be little competition.
This means that bottled water will remain expensive and will be sold only by the existing food and beverages outlets offering little competition in pricing.
An official said the retail contract says that outlets could be installed to sell packaged food but it was unfair to bar them from selling bottled water because the contract is already with F&B.
The authorities should set up stalls where water will be sold at the price in which it is being sold in the city."
"Passengers should be given a choice," he added.
The packaged food and beverages come with the special price stamped on it with a label that they are specially priced for airport.
A senior official said AAI was attempting to provide bottled water at cheaper rates inside the terminal.
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