Bahrain: Kannadigas Push for Better Air Connectivity to Mangalore
News by Ronald D F D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network—Bahrain (CN)
Bahrain, Jan 29: Kannadiga associations in Bahrain submitted a memorandum to Vayalar Ravi, Indian Minister for NRI Affairs and Civil Aviation, on Thursday January 27.
The memorandum said that fares to Mangalore are highly unfair compared to cities in neighbouring Kerala and requested him to bring down the fares and to give Mangalore airport an international status so that many airlines can operate flights to the city. This will result in better prices for NRIs from the region including places like Karwar, Udupi, Mangalore, Shimoga, Kasargod, and surrounding districts, as there are more than 200,000 Kannadigas from the area surrounding Mangalore airport.
Yet another point in the memorandum was introduction of Bahrain-Doha-Bangalore-Mangalore services. The passengers from Bangalore are presently forced to travel through Doha or Dubai or Muscat which causes a lot of inconvenience to families who are required to change their flights.
The petition also requested introduction of coach services to Mangalore railway station and Udupi city to support low income passengers coming from the Gulf. It also requested one additional international airport at Hubli or Belgaum or Bellary on an urgent basis.
The minister assured that all the points will be taken care of and he will talk to Air India officials to reduce air fares in due course.
Kannada Sangha Bahrain had earlier called together all the Kannadiga associations in Bahrain to discuss the grievances relating to civil aviation facilities in Karnataka and airline services provided from Bahrain to Mangalore in Karnataka.
Officials from 13 associations had attended the meeting and agreed upon the contents of the memorandum.