Daijiworld News Network - Uttara Kannada (GA)

Bhatkal, Aug 2: "Considering the needs of NRIs the union government should take adequate and immediate steps to upgrade the Mangalore airport to international status at least by the end of August, 2006," said Mohammad Farook Shabandri, president of NRI West Coast Forum, Dubai.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Rabita Society here recently.  He said that upgradation of Mangalore airport to international status would be beneficial to more than 2 lac NRIs working in Gulf and Middle-East countries.

He also disclosed that the forum had submitted an appeal to the union government last year which was signed by more than 10,000 NRIs.  "Moreover, a delegation of the forum had met the Prime Minister, civil aviation minister and the chief minister of the state in this regard and had appealed them to upgrade the Mangalore airport.  But nothing much is done in this regard either by the union or state government," he regretted.

He added that while the neigbouring state of Kerala has 4 international airports, Karnataka does not have a single international airport.  "Kerala is all set to get one more international airport.  Mangalore airport is ready, technically as well as traffic wise, to get international status.  But owing to some unknown factors airport is not being granted international status," he said.

Rabita society secretary Zaheed Ruknuddin and Aftab were also present at the press conference.