Fullfil promise on foreign airlines: JD(S) to Praful Patel

Kozhikode, Oct 26 (UNI) The Janata Dal (Secular) today urged Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to fulfill his promise of introducing foreign airline services from Karippur International Airport to ameliorate the travel woes of passengers in the Malabar region.

In a letter to Mr Patel, JD (S) Parliamentary Party Leader M P Veerendra Kumar said: ''A severe injustice continues to be perpetrated on the hapless people of Malabar by delaying a decision on the issue.'' Despite various agitations by different organisations, including political parties, a decision was pending on the issue, ''creating unrest in the region'', he said.

Mr Kumar claimed the recent permission to private operators to ply from Coimbatore to overseas destinations compounded the unrest among the people.

The decision was shocking in view of the fact that Coimbatore attracted 1,033 passengers as against 78,343 from Karippur in March, he said.

Though many foreign airlines had expressed willingness to operate from Karippur, the decision on the issue was kept in abeyance ''apparently to protect the monopoly'' of the state-owned carriers-- Air India and Indian-- he alleged.

UNI