Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 10: Praveen Shetty, president of Karnataka NRI Forum in the UAE has informed that necessary precautions are being taken at Dubai airport to test NRIs returning to Mangaluru and other places from the UAE in the midst of coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking to Daijiworld Television on live show, Praveen Shetty said, "We had demanded the flight from UAE to Mangaluru to be operated on May 12, but for some technical issues with Air India, it was scheduled for May 14, but now finally the government and Air India have agreed to rechedule the flight for May 12.
Representational image
"The first priority on flight will be given to pregnant women and people who are sick and need medical attention back in their hometown. At Dubai airport, all passengers will be subjected to rapid blood test before they enter the check-in counter. It will take only five-six minutes for the result to show.
"Those who test negative will be allowed to board the flight, and a green sticker will be pasted on their passport indicating that they have passed the test. Those who test positive will be sent back to quarantine. A thermal scanner has also been installed at the airport to check body temperature," he said.
"As many as 30 pregnant women will be travelling in the first flight on May 12. I have specially arranged a doctor to take care of these patients and travel with them on the flight from Dubai to Mangaluru," he added.
Regarding air fares, he said there has been a lot of confusion and misleading rumours floating around. "I checked with Air India manager at Dubai airport who confirmed that there is no hike in air fares. Air India charges Dhs 720 to Dhs 770, which is normal air fare to Mangaluru from Dubai," he said.
On being asked about more flights to Mangaluru from other Gulf countries and the UAE, he said, "The Karnataka government should put more efforts in this regard. We are in touch with union minister Sadananda Gowda and the central government of India. Discussions are on to arrange special flights for Kannadigas who are residing in other countries. Next flights will be from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and discussions in this regard are on. We have been promised another flight from Dubai to Mangaluru in the second week of May."
MLC Ivan D'Souza spoke to Daijiworld Television on the arrangements being made for NRIs returning from Dubai to Mangaluru. "All those who come from abroad will have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days. The government is doing adequate arrangements for this. If the returning NRI party wants to be quarantined in two star or three star hotels with facilities like attached bathroom, they can choose their qurantine points controlled by the district administration prior to flying to Mangaluru.
"The administration has strictly instructed the designated hotels/lodges and hostels to charge lower fee for people who come from abroad for quarantine. Charges will be around Rs 3,000 per day," he said.
"Only people from Karnataka have been accommodated in the first flight scheduled on May 12. People from Kasargod are not included in this flight. The district administration will received the passengers at Mangaluru airport and will take them straight to quarantine facilities. People from other districts will be sent directly to their respective centres," he said.
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