Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, Jan 10: NRIs, who fly to / from the Gulf have been facing several problems, especially due to non-availability of direct flights from Mangalore to the Gulf region. The passengers from here are forced to go via Mumbai to board or alight flights, thus wasting their valuable time, money and energy.
In this context, the operation of direct flights directly to the Gulf would be more beneficial to a large number of people, says Rajesh Sequeira, coordinator, Karnataka NRI Forum (KNRIF) UAE, comprising of 37 organizations around the Gulf countries, which have been trying to achieve the international status to Mangalore airport from September 3, 2004.
Mangalore's present gateway to the world
Rajesh has been in the forefront of a concerted effort on the part of NRIs of Karnataka in the UAE for over two years now, without seeking any publicity. (Daijiworld.com too has been giving him full backing over the past two years, for which the reports that have appeared on the website bear evidence.)
Rajesh is happy that during the past few months, a good number of organizations from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have been joining in to support his initiative. Increasing support from different organizations from the Gulf in the recent past has enabled the move to gather momentum.
Grace Pinto, director, Ryan International Schools, along with senior journalist and social worker Rons Bantwal from Mumbai and Rajesh Sequeira had met union civil aviation minister Praful Patel on September 20, 2005 requesting him to accord international status to Mangalore by March 2006. He has assured them in the affirmative. KNRIF members also met Oscar Fernandes, union minister for sports and external affairs on December 11, 2005 in Dubai while he was on a visit.
The present departure lounge
A fervent follow-up has been made on Mangalore airport issues, reports on which have been published in Daijiworld.com from time to time. B R Shetty, Director of New Medical Centre and well-known entrepreneur from Abu Dhabi originally hailing from Udupi district, has also been following this matter vigorously over the past several years. In fact, B R Shetty on Monday January 9 announced at Hyderabad at the `Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ conclave that NRIs were ready to participate in the construction of the new terminal building at the Bajpe airport.
As the new, extended runway is expected to be completed by March 31, 2006, national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines have to announce their dates of operation of flights to the Gulf region. Once this is announced, the Customs and Immigrations department will have to ensure Customs Bound Airport status for the operations to commence.
Rajesh Sequeira complimenting airport director M R Vasudeva on his efforts towards early upgradation of the airport. Daijiworld Resident Editor Richie Lasrado is also seen with them
Memoranda have been submitted to directors of Air India and Indian Airlines in this regard six months back and waiting for the schedule to be published. After the new runway is commissioned, Airbus –310 (Air India), Airbus-320 (Indian Airlines) and Boeing 737-800 (Air India Express) can operate to Mangalore. Since the night-landing facilty would be part of the new infrastructure, the existing terminal building would be available for night operations and therefore the ideal capacity of the terminal can be fully made use of by suitably positioning Customs and Immigration counters.
Rajesh says that despite the shortcomings, Gulf-bound passengers are ready to be contented with the `cattle-shed-like' facility available at the airport in case international flights commence as they want to avoid the journey to Mumbai. Rajesh adds that an average passenger spends close to Rs 20,000 to reach the Gulf one-way - but if international flights operate from Mangalore, with the same cost the passenger can afford return ticket too.
Also, if this airport is not made customs-bound immediately, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will make losses on the funds, close to Rs 100 crore, spent on the upgradation of the airport.
Therefore, the KNRIF members have urged the civil aviation ministry to announce the date for the operation of international flights, as was done in the case of Pune airport which was given international status on December 12, 2005. If the Ministry announces the date, the customs and immigration department automatically will be in Mangalore.
Apart from helping Gulf-bound passengers, the international flights will boost the local economy, especially helping exports in floriculture and other perishable commodities, thus providing job opportunities for a good number of Mangaloreans. Several software companies, which have been so far hesitating to land in the region, will also find investments here lucrative after the commencement of international operations.
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