Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DC)
Mangaluru, Aug 11: Kannadigas living in Kuwait have written an open letter to Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament, Nalin Kumar Kateel, urging him to keep up the promise that he made few years back with regards to change in Mangaluru-Kuwait flight timings.
In a open letter the NRI's stated, "Lacs of employees hailing from many districts of Karnataka and Kerala including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kasargod, Kannur have been working in Kuwait. These employees have depended upon 'Air India Express' and Mangaluru International Airport for their travel. Most of the employees hail from Mangaluru. Earlier the Air India cancelled its service following monopoly of private flight services. But the service was resumed after immense pressure from us and months of agitation. We had brought the issue to your notice and you visited us in Kuwait following our invite,”
“Few years ago, without any intimidation, the flight timings were changed. The flight used to depart from Mangaluru every day at 8.45 pm and reach Kuwait at 11.15 pm. On its return journey, the flight used to leave Kuwait at 12.30 am and reach the city at 7.30 am. This timing suited the passengers well. However, about four months back, Air India Express suddenly brought about changes in the schedule of this flight. The flight now leaves Mangaluru at 7 am and reaches Kuwait at 11.15 am. The return flight leaves Kuwait at 12.15 pm and reaches Mangaluru at 7.15 pm,” the letter continues.
“As the flight leaves the city early in the morning, passengers coming from Kasargod, Kannur, Kundapur, Bhatkal and other far off places are facing problems in reaching the airport on time. They are compelled to arrive in the city the previous day and wait for the next day's flight. Although the total time of the journey is about four hours, the waiting timing happens to be much more for many passengers. Therefore, on behalf of various Kuwait-based organizations, a memorandum was submitted to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. The passengers were hoping that the MP's intervention will have positive impact in changing the timings to suit their need, and the MP also had assured them of the same,” says the letter.
“However, within some days of submitting this petition, the timings of this flight were further modified in a way that it now heaps more miseries on the passengers. As per the new time table, with effect from March 25, the flight leaves the city at 6.30 am and reaches Kuwait at 10.45 am. It begins its return journey at 11.45 am and reaches Mangaluru at 6.30 pm. This makes people to spend their entire day in travelling. Therefore, the passengers want the timings to be reverted to the flight timings followed when the flight was first introduced,” letter reads.
“As per rules, international passengers have to reach the airport three hours before departure time. This means that the passengers leaving for Kuwait have to be present at the airport at 3.30 am. Passengers from far off areas are particularly affected. Even the reaching time of the return time is highly inconvenient.
“But years have passed by, your promise remains unfulfilled. The much-awaited Kannur airport is all set to be inaugurated and the people from that region will avail flight timings suitable to them. But those travelling from Mangaluru airport are still facing inconvenience. If such things continue, there are chances of people using Kannur airport rather than Mangaluru airport.
When an efficient party with Narendra Modi is leading the nation, we need an MP who fulfils our demands. We are tax-payers and it is our right to ask you to solve our problems. The national highway too is in pathetic condition. The western region of Karnataka is deprived of railway service. Hence we once again urge you to change the flight timings and resume daily flight service from Mangaluru. We will not wait till Lok Sabha elections also there is no need to submit memorandum to PM Modi. We look forward to your reply and immediate action," the letter says.
The open letter which is going viral comes months after the MP promised to solve their issues.
Meanwhile, Nalin Kumar Kateel has been slammed on social media by the Netizens including his own party activists for his failure to complete two key flyover projects in Thokkottu and Pumpwell. In a Facebook page, the Netizens have asked the voters not to support him in the Lok Sabha polls if he is given ticket.
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