With the onset of winter and the prospects of flight delays due to fog looming large, air travelers this year will at least have something new to look forward to in the form of piping hot food being available right next to the domestic airport. As part of its measures to tackle fog-related problems, the Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL) had made plans to ensure that passengers stranded due to flight delays are served food and beverages in special, heated tents. However, the food will only be for ticket holders.

DIAL has, however, ensured that visitors, too, are not left out in the cold by facilitating the opening of a 24-hour restaurant - Balaji Express - just outside terminal 1-B at the Delhi Airport. The restaurant specializes in south Indian delicacies but also offers north Indian favourites and other cuisine. DIAL has awarded the contract for this to P.K. Hospitality Services. Airport officials said that usually a lot of people come to just see off passengers and are not provided with any such facility with most of the snack bars and lounges inside the airport also not being accessible to visitors. As the new restaurant will remain open for all the 24 hours, these visitors can now have a hearty meal without having to enter the terminal.

The restaurant, which can accommodate more than 100 people at a time, has already become quite popular with passengers and visitors and also airport and airlines employees. According to an airline employee the snack bars and lounges inside the airport did not serve regular meals but instead offered items like pastries and sandwiches and even these were very expensively priced so they preferred having their lunch at this restaurant which had better and more affordable food.

As for passengers, DIAL will be putting up ‘portacabins' facing the terminal and has already cleared a lot of area in front of terminal 1-B for that purpose. The portacabins will be heated by non-polluting oil heaters. Officials are also in talks with food caterers for making additional food arrangements for passengers. While some finishing touches are still going on at the restaurant, it was built and opened as fast as possible since DIAL specifically wanted this restaurant to start before winter set in, keeping in mind the rush of passengers and visitors when flights are delayed. DIAL is also planning a similar restaurant at the International airport by early next year.