by Ramcy Fernandes - Daijiworld News Network - DubaiDubai, Jun 7: The much-talked-about man in the matter of the Mangalore International Airport has arrived in Dubai on an official visit at 5-00 pm local time on Tuesday, June 6.
Karnataka NRI Forum coordinator and special correspondent of Daijiworld Rajesh Sequeira along with a few prominent Mangaloreans were at the airport to receive Vasudeva, who is visiting here along with Soran Singh DGM Communication, Mumbai to attend a seminar organised by SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques) in Abu Dhabi on June 7, on the subject "Growth beyond Expectation'.
While speaking to Daijiworld in the airport, upon his very first visit to any of the Gulf countries, Vasudeva said he was overwhelmed to see the Dubai international airport and was highly impressed by its looks and pattern.
He has re-confirmed that "Mangalore is ready to become the International Airport; we are only waiting for the airlines to confirm their dates"
"It was my dream to bring Mangalore airport up to international level. My efforts were well supported by people, authorities and government. I am extremly happy about the progress achieved in the Mangalore airport. We had lot of hurdles initially, but the we have been able to overcome the problems."
He was sounding relaxed and happy upon his first landing.
"I wanted to fly from Mangalore to Dubai or Sharjah direct... but it could not happen," he regretted.
When asked about the night landing facility in Mangalore, he said: "We have installed the latest type of lights to facilitate night landing. We are even ready for night-time flights," he assured.
He was highly impressed by the way the NRIs stood solidly behind the Mangalore international issue, while he also appreciated the efforts put in by NRI Karnataka Forum in Dubai, as well as other forums in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and elsewhere.
When asked about the prospects of the first flight landing, he said "It's upto the airlines, but we are fully co-operating with any airline which is approaching us. Our efforts will not be complete until the first international flight lands at Mangalore."
He complimented daijiworld for the media support given in Mangalore and public opinion formed at international level on the airport issue.
Vasudeva will be one of the guests of honour at Karnataka Sangha Abu Dhabi's 25th year celebration on June 9, where chief minister H D Kumaraswamy will also take part.
Karnataka NRI forum is doing its best to put maximum pressure on the chief minister to take a firm initiative on the first international flight service to Mangalore.
Vasudeva had a special word of praise for Karnataka NRI Forum UAE convener Rajesh Sequeira. He said if a large number of people had taken the kind of interest in the subject as Rajesh had taken, Mangalore would have become an international airport way back in the 1970's or 1980's, he said. "Anyway, I am only hoping that leading airlines would start operating international flights very soon," he concluded
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