Mangalore: Airport users' forum to stage dharna on Aug 18 over various issues


Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)

Mangalore, Aug 16: The Mangalore International Airport Users' Forum (MIAUF) on Saturday August 16 laid down various problems and demands in front of the media to highlight the issues at Bajpe airport.

In order to impress this upon the authorities concerned, the representatives of various organizations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are coming together under the banner of MIAUF and have planned to sit on dharna on Monday August 18 in front of the DC's office, Mangalore, and submit a memorandum with a charter of demands to the departments concerned through the DC, and to the airport director, the customs commissioner, and the state minister.

Addressing the media, Prabhakara Ambalathere, coordinator of MIAUF, said, "In order to recover the construction cost of the International Airport at Mangalore, a user fee was imposed on the passengers. Even after several years of fee collection and recovering more than the cost, it is high time this fee collection is stopped. Even after years, compensation to the bereaved families of the air crash victims has not been fully distributed. We demand that adequate compensation to the next of kin of the victims be provided immediately as well as a memorial be built for the victims."

Talking about the increase in the luggage limit and proper handling of luggage, he said, “In the good old days, passengers were allowed to carry 35 kg of luggage. NRIs, after years of toiling on foreign soil, come to the airport with dreams of a happy reunion with family and relatives and want 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."

“When one books an Air India Express ticket online, most of the seats are blocked. When you enter the aircraft you can see most of the seats vacant. It is said that it is to compensate the weight of luggage and passengers, but the situation was not different even when passengers had a higher baggage allowance,” he added.

“Except the day flights, the flights to Mangalore are operated at the convenience of the staff and the passengers are made to face hardships at both airports waiting for long hours and spending sleepless nights at the airport lounges,” he said.

M R Vasudeva, chief co-ordinator, Karnataka NRI’s Forum, B A Mahamood, and Venkatesh Bhat were also present during the conference.

  

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Comment on this article

  • G. K. Rao , Mangalore/Dubai

    Mon, Aug 18 2014

    This is good move... Appreciated thought of Mr. Prabhakar Ambalthere. Specially Passengers going/coming through Mangalore Airport has been treated unsatisfactory manner. Specially at the ticket counter at the Airport they take only 17 to 20 kgs, All other Airlines gives 30 kgs baggage allowance 7 kgs hand luggage.
    Also coming passengers from abroad The Customs Officers treatment to the passengers are very unsatisfied.
    No body in the Airport to listen to the Passengers problem,
    Hope this move will help the concerned authority to take proper action, and make Mangalore International Airport like other Airport of India. And let the passengers feel comfort and happiness in their journey.
    G.K. Rao Mangalore/Dubai.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, MANGALURU

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    THE SO CALLED DIPLOMATS / TOP BUREAUCRATS COME TO THE GULF ONLY FOR SHOW BUSINESS OR SHOPPINGS !!!

    WHY THEY ARE NOT REACTING ON THE SEVERAL ISSUES FACED BY THE NRI OVER THE YEARS !!

    WHY ALL "SANGAS" ARE NOT UNITED IN ONE FORUM !!!

    ACHHE DIN ANEWALE HAIN

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

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

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Good luck to Airport users' forum,I wish every one who support this justifiable cause by taking part in the dharna and voice every passengers concern,best of luck Mr.Prabhakara Abbalathere co-ordinator of MIAUF and thank you for your effort and initiative for this noble cause of to benefit every passengers who use Mamngalore Airport.
    Mark Denis D'souza.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • David, Mangaluru / Dubai

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Looks like Mr. Peter is a domestic traveler and a rich man, who can commute 20 - 30 times a year by air. We people travel once in a year or two, may have to carry enough cloths & other accessories to cover our vacation. Besides when a bag itself weighs around 7 kgs, what is left for cloths & accessories within 20 kg allowance. During summer, carriers including the so called national carrier, fleece us till the last penny for the ticket.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • K.Fernandes, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    MR. Oswald, FYI, RTO is not taking care of road they take care of Road transport and licensing part. The road issues ate under District administration, if it is national highway, then national highway authority. The Road leads to Air port (Climbing the ghat section in front of air port shall be (my opinion/suggestion) maintained by Mangalore airport itself as they collect heavy parking fee.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Oswald Mendonca, Mangalore Junction RLY

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Mangalore City To Airport Road Half Look A airport Road Half Look Like Worst Than A village Road What R T O Of Mangalore Is trying TO spoil Name of The city or the department

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • K.Fernandes, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Mr.Pinto,I think u land at MIAL airport, then u travel to Mangalore with domestic flight without customs and hand carry baggage. Do you know a small family with 3 kids come down for 2 month holiday in July- Sept(Peak summer in Gulf & peak rain in coastal Mangalore. Requires 3 to 4 days to dry the cloths) how much personal cloth required? DO you have family with kids? DO you think 20 Kg baggage allowance is enough? Yes I do agree with you everything is available in India but do we have time to go shopping immediately after landing in India?. It is very easy to advise others. While coming from abroad we have to consider many things like gifts to loved ones, all finally comes as baggage my dear Pinto. Recently I have to wait more than 1.30 Hrs to collect one bag Mglore. air port. I’m not praising MIAL. What 15 min walkout you are claiming is your dream not the reality. At least let Mglore air port increase the baggage handing process faster to void the time waste.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • ravi shetty, mangalore

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    All the best & hope they succeed in their demands.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • P. Shirish Kumar Hosabettu, Muscat, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Good work. But surprised why they forgotten the main issue, Mangalore to Airport road is not completed till now. Two Government changed but no one cares??

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 17 2014

    Here is a very knowledgeable person - Mr. Vasudev Rao who knows a lot about Airports and Airlines. It is good that he is taking the lead role in fighting for the rights of the passengers. Hope the the darna sends the right the message to the authorities and that there will be a redress of grievances.

    Joe Gonsalves

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vashal, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 16 2014

    The above concerns are need of the hour.All concern people support this move and make it done.A lot of people suffered due to monopoly of the airport authority as well as air India.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Pinto, Badhyar/ Navi Mumbai

    Sat, Aug 16 2014

    Even though We use MIAL (BOM) regularly for our international travel,Mangalore is occasional and find it bit easy and free to pass through in less than 15 minuets when with family and less bags and baggage. Why bringing extra goods? when you can get almost every thing here in India for reasonably good competitive price.In Europe items are 50-75 percent costlier than available in India.Private taxis are very well controlled and comfortable in Mangalore. BOM (MIAL) one cannot trust Taxi's comfort in reaching your destination.I call my own taxi and pay return fare for my and family's safe specially when you have little kids at odd hours whether it rains with floods or shines in the traffic.
    We use at least 20-30 trips in a year and found it Mangalore is the comfortable International Airport except for and perhaps for smugglers, money makers.Please advise all your near and dear ones not to bring outdated cheap goods from AG but only bring your hard earned money through proper channel for your and your family's future.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Aug 16 2014

    Acche Din Anne Wale Hai ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, mangaluroo

    Sat, Aug 16 2014

    I HOPE THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIVES CAN HELP ON THE ABOVE ISSUE REGARDLESS PARTY EVERYONE GONE THERE TO GULF FOR PARTYING WITH ALL KIND OF SANGAS

    B RAMANATHA RAI
    U T KHADER
    LOBO
    IVAN D SOUZA
    BAVA
    NALINI KUMAR
    AMARNATH SHETTY
    SIDDU
    SIVANANDA GOUDA
    HDK
    DEVEGOUDA

    ALL THE ABOVE WENT TO GULF TO EAT BIRIYANI AND NOW THE GULFIES "NA GHAR KA NA GHAT KA" SITUATION GUYS WANTS YOUR HELP

    DisAgree [2] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore: Airport users' forum to stage dharna on Aug 18 over various issues



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