Mangalore Airport Users' Forum to hold dharna on Aug 18 for various demands


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangalore, Aug 2: With the aim to coax authorities to provide better facilities at Mangalore International Airport, representatives of various organizations of GCC countries have decided to hold a dharna at DC's office here on August 18, under the banner of Mangalore International Airport Users' Forum.

A media release from the Forum stated, "To impress upon the governments concerned, we the representatives of the various organizations of GCC Countries have come together under the banner of Mangalore International Airport Users' Forum and have planned to sit on dharna on August 18 before the DC's office in Mangalore. (We will) submit a memorandum with a charter of demands to the departments concerned through the DC, airport director, customs commissioner, the local member of Parliament (MP), and state minister."

Vakwady Praveen Shetty, chairman of Fortune Group of Hotels, UAE will inaugurate the protest at 9.30 am. Former airport director and chairman of Karnataka NRI Forum M R Vasudeva, and KESEF chairman B A Mahmood are expected to take part in the protest. Prabhakar Ambalthere is the chief coordinator of the protest.


The Forum's demands include:

• Budget airlines flights to Mangalore from GCC countries
• Cancellation of airport user's fee in Mangalore
• A memorial for the Bajpe air crash victims with their details and immediate distribution of compensation to their next-of-kin.
• Increase in luggage limit and proper handling of luggage.
• Cordial treatment from the in-flight and ground staff of Air India Express.
• Reconstitute the non-resident Kannadiga welfare forum for the benefit of Kannadigas ( applying only for residents of Karnataka)
• Full-fledged services at existing Mangalore passport office


The release further stated, "After several years of fight we considered ourselves fortunate when an Air India Express flight landed in Mangalore International Airport about 8 years back. The consistent demand and efforts under the leadership of senior businessmen of Gulf countries and various organizations of UAE were overlooked by the government for several years and ultimately in 2006, the Indian government had to oblige the NRI organizations and their leadership. The passengers from Gulf to Mangalore were thrilled and happy about this achievement. But as days passed by, the service became disappointing for the passengers."


Elaborating on the above stated demands, the release listed the following points of concern:

"Passenger rates to Mangalore very high

Flight rates to Calicut, Cochin and Trivandrum are very low (UAED 580) whereas to Mangalore it is almost four times high at UAED 2000. Budget airlines operate flights to the Kerala airports. We demand budget airlines flights to Mangalore also.


Flight timing to the inconvenience of passengers

Excepting the day flights, the flights to Mangalore are operated at the convenient timings of staff and the passengers are made to face hardships at both airports, waiting for long hours and spending sleepless nights at the airport lounges.


Cancellation of the user’s fee at Mangalore International Airport

To recover the construction cost of the international airport at Mangalore, a user fee was imposed on the passengers. After several years of fee collection and recovery of more than the cost, it is high time that the user fee collection is stopped.


Distribution of compensation and construction of a memorial to the Bajpe air crash victims

Even after years, the compensation to the bereaved families has not been distributed fully. We demand proper compensation to the next of kin of the victims and a memorial to the victims immediately.


Increase in the luggage limit and proper handling of luggage

In the good old days, passengers were allowed to carry 35 kg of luggage with them. NRIs after years of toil on foreign soil, come to their hometown with dreams of happy reunion with family and relatives, wanting to carry some gifts. But today the limit has been reduced to 17 kg and even a slight increase in weight by 1 or 2 kg makes them offenders in the eyes of the officials issuing the boarding pass.

In 1967 every passenger could carry goods worth US $ 5000. Today a man can carry two sovereigns and a woman four sovereigns of gold only. Nowadays a woman’s mangalasutra itself weighs 4.5 sovereigns. If the ornament’s weight is slightly more he/she is treated as a smuggler.


Inefficient handling of luggage

When one books Air India Express ticket online, most of seats are blocked. When on entering the aircraft, one can see most of the seats vacant. It is said that this is done to compensate the weight of luggage and passengers, but the situation was not different even when the passengers were allowed to carry 30 kg luggage.


Reconstitution of the NRI welfare forum for Kannadigas

There was an NRI welfare forum constituted during the previous government in Karnataka. Now we demand the reconstitution of the forum and welfare measures for Kannadiga NRIs.


All NRIs are requested to participate in the dharna along with their kin and friends back home."

  

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Comment on this article

  • G. K. Rao , Mangalore/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 10 2014

    Very good move taken by Mangalore Users' forum, We have taken enough beating from Air India Express with very high return ticket rates, and Specially treatment of Customs Dept harassment to incoming passengers are unbearable specially with Senior citizen & families,they treat us as smugglers, being Mangaloreans it is very shameful in our part,I have travelled several years to Mumbai but no harassment like this, The addressing demands are reasonable and genuine,I wish good luck Mr.Prabhakar Ambaltere & all the participants in this darna.This will be one of successful dharna.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • m.r.vasudeva, mangalore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    a railway station below airport nerer to porkodi
    volvo buses to carry passengers & bags &baggage
    flight to kuwait
    developing ground floor access
    to airport
    improving cargo handling
    use of deccan park building
    expediting parallel taxiway
    extending runway length by 350 meter instead of 1km
    improving ATC facilities by shifting operations to newly constructed building
    front personnel human relations training programme
    revising user fees at par with all coastal area airports level for tier two ,three cities without any discrimination in the country
    expediting alternative road development work

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • James Mendonca, Hon. President, Mangalore Konkans, Dubai, Dubai

    Mon, Aug 04 2014

    It is an excellent idea to express people's opinion in a peaceful way. Most demands are reasonable and should be definitely looked into by the authorities. The ticket fare for a budget airline is comparable to full fledged airlines to destinations such as Bangalore/Mumbai. Condition of the seats are so bad (worse than city busses in Mangalore) that one needs to be additionally padded to find comfort from the steel rods that poke into you. The smiling faces which was the trade mark of Air India during the Tata's day's is long gone. What we now have are rude and grumpy in-flight staff who make sure you don't want to ask them for any help. I was privileged to be on the 1st flight to Mangalore from Dubai, and I can swear the food that was prepared for the 1st flight is still being served today. The menu remains the same but the quality diminished with every flight. I wish all success to the organisers and participants of the dharna

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prashanth C. Acharya, Udupi/ Dubai

    Mon, Aug 04 2014

    Excellent move and much needed . Each and everyone must have to support the forum . Every traveler has their own worst experience of concern authorities. State government taken us for granted and always neglected NRI's request and demand . Whoever come to power in the state always busy in circuses to save their own chair . They know very well that whatever problems we face in the airport most of us will forget immediately after meeting families outside the airport. …. . Two neighboring states Kerala & Goa are doing extremely well in the field of tourism even though coastal Karnataka has all sources and potentials but never tried to explore it .Airfare charges are always high compared to Kerala and Goa…please join the march :- President utive Committee and all members VKSS Dubai, UAE.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Girish, Karkala / Riyadh

    Mon, Aug 04 2014

    PLZ... ANYBODY INFORM ME WHAT IS THE STATUS OF RIYADH - MANGALORE - RIYADH DIRECT FLIGHT SERVICE. NOW A DAYS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THIS WHY ??? THE MANGALOREANS STAYING IN RIYADH SUFFERS A LOT. NOBODY CARES

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Dear Readers, Jet Airways is not buget airline but they treat us like Budget Class. No TV's in every seat. Drinks will be served after the food & that is also after 1 Hour. Why we should pay high amount on Jet Airways

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Karan, Katapadi/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    I also had bad experience while carrying my own camera. The customs took my bad and asked me to open camera and show them. I told them it is more than 3 years old and I have been travelling with it many times. Then finally they let me go. What is the rule with camera? Are we not allowed to carry one personal camera while travelling. All this happens only Mangalore. I have traveled many times through Mumbai and I don't see any harassment there.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mark Denis Dsouza, Niddodi/Sharjah-U.A.E

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Excellent move taken by Mangalore Users' forum,the need of the hour to wake-up call to the concerned authorities,as well all the Kannadigas.The addressing demands are reasonable and genuine,wish good luck Mr.Prabhakar Ambal there and all the participants in this darna.
    Mark Denis D'souza

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • iqbal, dammam

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Medical Clinic
    A Medical Clinic should be available at the Airport's main dome for passengers or accompanying guests requiring special medical assistance.

    Special Services Staff
    Special Services staff should be provided round-the-clock assistance for passengers enquiring about visas, passports and transit passes.
    Unaccompanied, Elderly and Disabled Passengers Special Services staff also assist passengers requiring special help, such as unaccompanied children, elderly and disabled people. In addition they assist passengers in going through Immigration and Customs formalities.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • jayaprakash shetty, UK

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    One very important thing airport needs is public transport. Can there be regular buses from Mangalore which also have enough luggage spaces. Now we only have to rely on taxis which cahrge a lot.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abbas hasan , jeddha. K.S.A

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    I have confirmed return ticket on AirIndia 930 to Mangalore via Bombay with baggage allowance of 40 kg HAND BAG. TOTAL TRAVEL TIME DESTI. IS 15 HOURS.FOR CALICUT IT IS 50 KG .H.B. FARE IS ALSO VERY LESS TO CALICUT. This is for information. To all concerned.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Suleman Beary, Udupi

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    It is a good move. It is very painful to hear that airlines are charging upto UAED 2000 one way to Mangalore. This fares are even multiple times compare to long travelling flight to USA from GCC by other international carriers.

    DisAgree Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Mallar, Kasaragod/ Dubai

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    The mission is highly appreciated. I suggest that a signature campaign is undertaken to add people who cannot participate in the Dharna.
    A bit, pessimism here - Will the Dharna in Mangalore work when the decision makers are sitting in Delhi? Perhaps working through MPs and ministers from Karnataka will be another option?

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • nelson bennis, mangalore/dubai

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    why the online tickets blocked after 25th oct??any reason or flight cancelled!

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prashanth, MAngalore

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Indian airport baggage handlers are worst in the world, they don't care for the baggage.

    DisAgree Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Yathish, uaE

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    I AM CHASING MY REFUND OF MY CANCELLATION TICKET FROM LAST ONE YEAR. STILL IT IS NOT CLEARED. ALWAYS I GET THE MESSAGE STATING THAT IT IS UNDER PROCESS COMPLAINT IS GIVEN TO THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. FRUSTRATED WITH AIR INDIA EXPRESS. SO UNPROFESSIONAL AND CHEAP FLIGHT I EVER SEEN.

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Allan D'Souza, Paladka/Kuwait

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Restoration of Mangalore to Kuwait direct flight should be included in this dharna...

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Karan, Katapadi/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Very good move, all NRI's should support this cause, as I am sure all agree demands are genuine.
    Also, I would request the authorities to take up the issue of "permissible gold allowed to bring India". Currently, all the passengers are harassed like Gold smugglers.

    DisAgree Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abbas hasan, mangalore

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    This is really heartening.how helpful it would have been if this cause of doing our little bit to the place of our birth/ the place where we belong,where we grew up is thought of by the rich & people who matter of mangalore of all the. Community such as Shetties, barries, Christians,Raos,konkanies. Common sirs, why not join hands.you also belong to the family of Mangalore.900

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Please add more to the list! Good roads to airport and decent plan for traffic flow! The current situation is chaotic...when rains it is even worse! At the moment there are haphazard dividers and vehicles approaching from both directions...some reversing and some U-turn. I wonder at times those who designed new airport terminal how they forgot to plan proper approach road, off and pick up area and so on!! Need of the hour is comfortable passage to vehicles in front of terminal...I mean airport users!!

    DisAgree Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn D Almeida, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    God bless your mission friends

    DisAgree [1] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hasan Yusuf, Mangalore - Kuwait

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Good efforts.

    Also please include Restoration of Direct Flight Services to KUWAIT - MANGALORE Sector.


    Date: 20 July, 2014
    Shri Ashok Gajapathi
    Honorable Civil Aviation Minister – New Delhi
    (Submitted through the Airport Director – Mangalore International Airport)
    Your Excellency,
    Subject: Restoration of Direct Fights to KUWAIT – MANGALORE Sector
    Aviation Ministry & Airlines Help Requested
    Warm greetings & best wishes from UNITED ASSOCIATIONS OF KARNATAKA, Kuwait (UAKK) an Umbrella Organization of 12 Karnataka State Associations in Kuwait.
    Sir, kindly note that the Air India Express (which was the only carrier flying directly from Kuwait to Mangalore) has stopped its Kuwait/Mangalore Operations from Feb 2014 giving feeble and different excuses, sometimes load factor, lack of leased aircrafts etc. Currently Kuwait is the only gulf country which does not have direct flights to Mangalore.
    Out of 762000 NRIs in Kuwait, presently more than 130000 Kuwait bound passengers from Mangalore, COASTAL KARNATAKA & NORTHERN PARTS OF KERALA who depend on MANGALORE AIRPORT are put to untold hardships as their flying time now has been extended from 4 to 12 hours via Mumbai or Bangalore. The plight of the aged and families with the small kids has become miserable as they have to transit through Mumbai or Bangalore. The disappointed passengers feel that there was systematic plan uted by the vested interests to cancel the Kuwait/Mangalore flights and finally they succeeded in victimizing Mangalore passengers by cancelling the flights from Feb 2014 and all representation to retain the flight fell on deaf ears.
    On behalf of thousands of Karnataka State NRIs in Kuwait, we earnestly request your intervention in this matter and you please advise JET AIRWAYS or any other ed Airlines to implement their flight services to KUWAT / MANGALORE sector as soon as possible on priority basis to get rid of our ongoing travelling hurdles (attached copies of our memorandums submitted to former Aviation Ministry and Jet Airways Management). We expect that KUWAIT / MANGALORE / BANGALORE sector is also feasible.
    We would highly appreciate your help in this matter. Kindly acknowledge the receipt of this memorandum and keep us updating the progress and developments via our E-mail: uakarnatakaq8@gmail.com

    With thanks & best regards,


    _________________________________
    Chief Coordinator
    United Associations of Karnataka, Kuwait (UAKK),
    Mobile: 00-965-97578300 (Kuwait) 8861872600 (India)

    Copied to:


    1. Shri G.M. Siddeshwara – Honorable State Aviation Minister, New Delhi
    2. Shri Siddaramiah – Hon. Chief Minister, Karnataka State, Bangalore
    3. Shri Naresh Goyal – Chairman, Jet Airways (India) Ltd. Mumbai
    4. Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda – Honorable Railway Minister, New Delhi
    5. Shri U.T. Kader – Hon. Health & Family Welfare Minister, Bangalore
    6. Shri Nalin

    DisAgree Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • karthik.ks, Doha Qatar

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    why the copy to Mr Nalin and Mr Sadanand Gowda...Useless peoples of the region

    DisAgree [7] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lakshmi Ramesh, Dubai/Tekkatte

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Please make some demand on Gold as well in my last visit i have faced a horrible experience and at least i have to keep my gold in the airport and go when I have all the purchased bill with me…people over there look to us as if we have got gold stolen from here....when we have some function back home then it’s obvious we need to take some gold to India…..I don’t know the logical of the airport authorities…when we r in gulf for more than 10 yrs and if we can’t purchase a gold of 100gms……. PLEASE DRAFT A RULE FOR THIS…

    DisAgree [1] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald, mangalore

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    This is good job if I would thier I would have been joind this last two months before I came to India Mangalore and I had 2Gold bangles weight is total 16grams tat was in my hand baggage they checked and and they checked my passport I was last October 2013 came India then they said jun 1st 2014 you can't carry gold I came to my cuisine s wedding I took loan and I purchased two bangles for her and these people (custom offers ) telling tat we will put you in jail for smuggling gold this words they are saying this all for local people they are saying then wat they do others if I had Camera I would have been recorded their conversation we should know wats the rules and regulations taking gold to India because these custom s cheating people and asking money

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • KK , Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Very good move .. appreciated... Recently I had very bad experience . I had only 22 grams of gold with me. In laguage counter they took my passport and started saying that why you are purchasing gold in dubai. Why you can purchase gold here. Then the saw my passport and said you are not stayed more than one year in dubai. so you have to pay duty for this gold and sent me to customs office. They also treated in same way and charged duty. As i told my situation that I normally travel within a year, then they told you are are not eligible to bring any gold while traveling to India as per government rules. and their treatment was very rude and unprofessional with me just for carrying 22 grams of gold with me. felt very sad about system

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohammed, Udupi / doha

    Sun, Aug 03 2014

    Excellent. . I too want to join this protest.
    All demands must be accepted as they are basic needs at airport. So true I too had bad experience.

    I pray for the success. .

    DisAgree [1] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agnel, Udupi

    Sat, Aug 02 2014

    Restoration of Kuwait Mangalore direct flight also included in this forums demand.

    DisAgree Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, mangaluroo

    Sat, Aug 02 2014

    THIS IS SOMETHING FRESH AND UNIQUE !! I HONESTLY PLEDGE MY FULL SUPPORT AS ITS A NONPROFITABLE ISSUE RAISED BY THE CONCERNED FOR THE WELFARE OF WHOLE SOCIETY

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • mks, udupi

    Sat, Aug 02 2014

    Is there any other way except Dharma to get demand fulfilled? .The initiative/intent is very good and I support this.

    DisAgree Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore Airport Users' Forum to hold dharna on Aug 18 for various demands



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