Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the centre to ensure more flights and train services to the state to clear the Onam rush. Mr Vijayan made the request in his letters sent to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday. Mr Vijayan urged Mr Raju to provide 15,000 additional seats to the airlines operating from the Gulf regions to destinations in Kerala between August 27 and September 15. He criticised the tendency to raise the charges during the rush period. This could be avoided by providing more flights.
Air Arabia has already written to the civil aviation department offering to operate more flights between August 28 and September 1. "Now the airlines are charging Rs 50,000 for flights from Gulf countries. This can be brought down to Rs 30,000 if more services are operated and at least 15,000 extra seats are provided,” Mr Vijayan said. In his letter to the railway minister, Mr Vijayan requested him to run special trains from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi to the state between August 27 and September 15. This was also important as Bakrid falls on September 1, he added.
