A Café Coffee Day outlet at the Regent Cinema in Patna. Telegraph picture

Fliers would be able to drink cold coffee and other beverages at a new Café Coffee Day outlet while waiting for their flights at Patna airport from this May.

The Bangalore-based coffee shop chain had submitted the highest bid for operating a snacks bar at the Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport. The Airports Authority of India will invite CCD to open an outlet at the facility.

A source at the airport said: “CCD has submitted the highest bid of Rs 1,35,000 each month for operating the snacks bar at the terminal building. The AAI, Delhi, would issue a letter of intent to them, asking them to submit their performance guarantee and security money for the bid.”

If CCD agrees to the conditions of the AAI, it would be awarded the contract and the agreement would be signed.

The source said the contract of the agency that operates the snacks bar at present would expire on May 19. CCD would be asked to start its operations immediately after that. Initially, it would be given a licence of operation for three years.

There are already three outlets of CCD in the city — at P&M Mall in Patliputra, Krishna Apartment and Regent cinema.

Fliers are very happy with the news of the new CCD outlet at the airport.

Chartered accountant Pankaj More, who flies frequently from Patna, said: “I’m very happy that we would get quality food at a CCD outlet at the airport. I’m very cautious about what I eat when I travel. The famous chain of coffee shops will provide quality refreshment for sure.”

He said at present, the choice of eateries at the airport was nothing to write home about.

“There are two restaurants at the airport — one on the first-floor of the terminal building and the other near the portico. But both are quite disappointing. The eatery near the portico does not have much variety on their menu while the service at the restaurant on the first floor is very slow,” said More.

The tendering process for the snacks bar, however, was not smooth.

On March 7, the AAI had to cancel the tenders after Sujata Hotels — the firm that operates Chanakya — lodged a formal complaint with the airport director claiming that its representatives were prevented from submitting tenders on March 5.

Apart from the snacks bar, the AAI has also floated tenders for operating a new eatery at the expanded security hold area of the airport. Spread over an area of 42.73sqm, the eatery would be operated by a branded food chain. The last date of submission of bids is May 7.