Mangalore Airport: AI Express Counter in Place - Flight in the Air?

Daijiworld News Network - Dubai UAE / Mangalore Pictures: Praveen Tauro - Daijiworld.com Mangalore

The Mangalore international airport project will go down in history as one marked by the most number of hurdles like indecision, lack of initiative and political will, empty promises, boastful claims, lack of leadership, passing the buck, blame game and many others
In this sordid drama, only a very few individuals stand apart as having done something concrete, quietly and without fanfare
Come the inauguration day, there will be dozens of persons to take the credit, share the dais and hog publicity
A reader survey by daijiworld reflects frustration, anger but hope too
September 3: The hopes of NRI Mangaloreans for flying direct from Gulf countries keep getting shattered but never seem to go dead.
The breach of promises by various authorities and individuals has clearly hurt their sentiments, but the dawn of each day brings in a new hope "One day or other, we will fly direct. That's for sure, " a majority of people say in a determined and hopeful mood.
Last week Mangalore airport director Vasudeva announced that Air India Express has allotted a slot for Dubai-Mangalore direct flight in winter season. Though he has given the date as October 2, for many NRIs it is just another date, not because of him, but other factors.
"I have given the information based on a letter received from Air India Express; it may vary at any time. You cannot consider this as firm until they open the booking," he said while speaking to daijiworld correspondent at Bajpe airport on Friday.
But Mangaloreans in the UAE have all the reason to keep their hopes alive, as Gulf News daily has confirmed the news, based on a press release issued by Air India Express' top executive Sanjiv Talwar in Dubai
"The board of Air India has approved the October schedule for direct flight from Dubai to Mangalore and Amritsar," quoted Gulf News.
"It would be most likely from October 2, but we still need a clearance from Mangalore airport," Talwar was quoted as saying.
When daijiworld contacted Mangalore airport authority, they said "That is true; but there are no hurdles from Mangalore airport. It is just a matter of paper work"
Sanjiv Talwar also said: "At the moment Air India is planning to fly three times a week to Mangalore and Amritsir separately. Also Air India is waiting for the delivery of 10 Boeing 737-800s and once the delivery is completed, it may increase the frequency of flights to Mangalore and Amritsar."
Let us keep our fingers crossed then and wait for the news, as we are all desperate to see direct international flights landing in Mangalore.
When daijiworld correspondent visited the Bajpe airport on Friday, a lot of preparations were seen taking place to usher in the maiden international flight. Arrangements for a separate, extended arrival hall, though temporary, are under way. The construction work of a new, permanent arrival hall has already begun, according to Vasudeva, who is equally eager to see the direct International flight from any country. He is leaving no stone unturned to convert the hopes of NRIs into a reality.
"Air India Express counters are ready. The counters for Customs have just arrived. Security measures are being set up," he said.
During the past week, Daijiworld reporting team carried out an extensive survey among some regular readers, prominent leaders and other NRIs, as well as Mangaloreans back home.
Out of 65 persons contacted on a representative basis, some presented a few interesting questions. But more than 50% of NRIs still refuse to believe that the first flight is going to land in October 2006, solely in the wake of their experience with recent promises and deadlines not being met.
54% say:
"We are tired of hearing such promises. We do not blame anyone except our political leaders. If they had helped in these matters, we would have flown long back. A majority feels that since the NRIs do not have voting rights, the politicians are not bothered about the NRI problems and also they think that NRIs have a lot of money and therefore are capable of handling the problems on their own!
To impress the NRIs, the politicians visit the Gulf countries on holidays or 'official' trips, and simply give false promises and never had them fulfilled in any way.
About 80% of the interviewees blame Oscar Fernandes for this delay. "He has such huge influence in the government. He has excellent political rapport with Sonia Gandhi, but never has had a will to help the NRIs. It is very sad and most NRIs regard Oscar as kind of 'Villain no. 1' in not helping in any way."
About 90% of readers whom we contacted say, all the boastful claims notwithstanding, Veerappa Moily, Bangarappa, Siddaramaiah, and 'Son of the Soil' Deve Gowda as well as his son Kumaraswamy have done NOTHING for the betterment of Mangalore Airport.
Some of the businessmen say the work should have been executed 10 years ago. They are very cynical about the flight taking off this year at all.
According to some senior readers, the airport mission can be accomplished faster if only Oscar Ferandes wields his influence with Sonia Gandhi. The main person to do this job is Praful Patel, the union civil aviation minister. To convince the aviation minister, only Sonia Gandhi is the right person, they say.
However, 46% of the readers still hopeful, and they deem the news of new date announcement as a 'positive' development and we should fly by October 2006, they say with confidence.
"We don't need politicians to get a direct flight. Our dynamic airport director and the unity of overseas NRI organizations are enough to get a flight"
"The real movement was started since year 2003 when Rajesh Sequeira floated the Karnataka NRI Forum in Dubai. His initiative thereafter motivated several organizations in other countries. If at all we have reached this stage now, a few people / organizations should be given credit. They are airport director Vasudeva, NRI entrepreneurs B R Shetty, NRI Karnataka Forum UAE leader Rajesh Sequeira, NRI Forum based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Hassan Yusuf, Pascal Pinto and their group in Kuwait and other supporters."
A few readers angrily vented their frustration. "Stop the politicians from coming here to the Gulf. Don't invite them at all," commented an angry reader, being unable to hide his emotions.
A very enthusiastic reader from Saudi Arabia was more outspoken. "Come what may, we are hopeful and our dream will come true. If it does not happen, let all NRIs during the next holiday season - probably in December - get into the streets in Mangalore and protest and protest until someone listens to us. We will gather in the airport and show the NRIs' unity..We will win,' said he.
But another reader from Dubai says, "We are good when there is a free forum to write our comments in. But actually when it comes to the matter of protest or unity, we are nowhere. In reality, practically all support is on paper. Hardly a 100 people from all Gulf countries will come to support during their holidays. Because 'others' do not have the time for such things!"
Regarding the entire process of international flights to Mangalore, a prominent leader in Dubai, has a very interesting comment
"Now it is almost sure that the flight will take off...but you have to wait and see who will take the credit for this!..It is just like a bus which has a starting trouble and needs to be pushed by some people to get going with a jerk. No one will come to push the bus to get it started..but once with the help of 2-3 people it gets started, then everyone will run and climb the bus to travel!'
He couldn't have put it better.
Conclusion:
The above comments are all based on the reader feedback received as part of the survey conducted by daijiworld, and the opinions are purely of the individuals or groups concerned and they do not represent Daijiworld.
The Mangalore international airport project will go down in history as one marked by the most number of hurdles like indecision, lack of initiative and political will, empty promises, boastful claims, lack of leadership, passing the buck, blame game and many others.In this sordid drama, only a very few individuals stand apart as having done something concrete, quietly and without fanfare. Come the inauguration day, there will be dozens of persons to take the credit, share the dais and hog publicity.
By the way, we fully realize the eagerness and despair of the NRIs when we receive letters over letters, asking us, "When are you starting the flight?". When we have every sympathy for their frustration, we would like to point out that flying is not our cup of tea, only conveying news and information is. And, as usual, daijiworld will keep you informed about every development. We will wait for the official announcement. As a media we can relay the news, help form public opinion and exert pressure...but can't charter a flight to Mangalore !