Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to introduce more flights from West Asia and more trains from the major cities to the State during the Onam season.
In a letter to Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathy Raju, the Chief Minister said more seats should be allocated on the flights of foreign carriers from destinations in West Asia to the State between August 27 and September 15 under the bilateral agreement.
An increase of 15,000 seats could reduce the airfare from the present ₹50,000 to ₹30,000 in the Kerala-West Asia sector, the Chief Minister said, recalling the assurance of the Union Civil Aviation Secretary at the May 15 meeting of the representatives of airlines that more seats would be sanctioned on demand from airlines.
Mr. Vijayan urged the Union Minister to approve a request of Air Arabia for additional flights during the August 28-September 1 period. He said Air India Express commenced more flights to Sharjah after the May 15 meeting convened by him.
Writes to Prabhu
In another letter to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, the Chief Minister demanded more mail and express special trains from Bengalaru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkota to the State and back during the August 25-September 10 period.
Mr. Vijayan said Keralites in other cities depended on trains to reach home during Onam.
The majority of them were from low-income category and could not afford flights. Many had to drop their travel plans for want of seats, he said.
He said the demand for seats during the season would be high as Bakrid also was on September 1.
