Arrange flight services for expats visiting home for Eid: Kerala CM to Centre
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday urged the central government to arrange more flight services and travel facilities for expatriates in the Gulf region who wish to go home for Eid.
The CM said that the festival season of Eid was turning into a time of depression for the expatriate community in the Gulf region and their families in Kerala, due to lack of sufficient flights to return home as a result of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Vijayan, in a statement issued by his office, said that usually the festive season was a time of happiness as the expatriates return home, but this time the journey has been disrupted for many due to lack of sufficient flights.
It has also led to soaring ticket prices and insufficient seats in the available flights, he said.
Besides that, there is also a rising concern among expatriates whether they will be able to return to their jobs in the Gulf after the festival due to the existing travel-related uncertainities.
"It is essential to ensure proportionate flight services considering the special circumstances of the expatriate community in Kerala.
"In this situation, the central government should intervene urgently and arrange more flight services and travel facilities," the CM said, whlle extending Eid greetings to the expatriate community in the Gulf region.
He said that expatriates are an integral part of our country and addressing their concerns was a much bigger responsibility than a mere social obligation.
Vijayan said that the concerned authorities should be ready to take immediate steps to provide comfort and confidence to them during the festive season of Eid.
He also commended the members of the Loka Kerala Sabha and expatriate organisations in the Gulf countries for coming together to provide assistance to the Indians stranded there in this time of unrest.
The CM expressed hope that such interventions will be further strengthened.
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Ahead of good Friday, SWR announces special train between Yesvantpur-Kannur via Mangaluru
Bengaluru: Ahead of the upcoming Good Friday festival weekend, the South Western Railway has announced a one-trip special train service between Yesvantpur Junction and Kannur via Mangaluru Junction.
According to an official released from the SWR, Train Number 06551 Yesvantpur–Kannur Express Special will depart Yesvantpur at 11.50 am on April 2 and is scheduled to arrive Kannur at 3.00 am on April 3.
In the return direction, Train Number 06552 Kannur–Yesvantpur Express Special will leave Kannur at 8.45 am on April 3 and reach Yesvantpur at 9.30 pm the same day.
The special train will halt at Kunigal, Channarayapatna, Hassan, Sakleshpura, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Bantawala, Mangaluru Junction, Kasaragod, Kanhangad and Payyannur.
The train composition will have two AC two-tier coaches, six AC three-tier coaches, seven sleeper class coaches, four general second class coaches.
