IA slashes air fares from Dubai

*IA slashes air fares from Dubai*

Herald had published that - DUBAI, JULY 18 (UNI) — Indian Airlines has slashed fares to most of the Indian destinations from Dubai at a time airlines are hiking the fares to meet the exorbitant cost of fuel.

Indian Airlines and Air India together operate 19 flights daily from Dubai and Sharjah to Indian destinations. With the reduced fares, one-way ticket from Dubai to a destination in Kerala costs dh 790, taxes included, down from dh 900. A single journey to New Delhi and Mumbai, too, is costing dh 790 against the previous dh 1,070 and dh 880, respectively (one dirham is Rs 11).

Passengers flying from Sharjah to any Indian destination also stand to benefit from the reduced fares as Sharjah-Mumbai ticket price has come down to dh 690 from dh 840, while Sharjah-New Delhi ticket price is down to dh 740 from dh 1,070.

However, the fare to Bangalore remains untouched at dh840 from both Dubai and Sharjah. Anand Pande, country manager of Indian Airlines, told Khaleej Times that even though the rising fuel prices are affecting the operational costs of the airline, Indian Airlines has reduced the prices with an eye on an increased volume.

Indian expatriates in the UAE have welcomed the airline’s reduced fares.

Whereas, Goans are Goans and not Indians and I prove it is true. What about the air fare to Goa? Which means the airfares has not gone down and still the most expensive one as usual. It is right; I feel the pinch that IA is still playing the monopoly system toward the all goans residing in Dubai, Kuwait and other gulf countries.

It shows that what Mr. Veronica written in his article ‘Degoanising of Goa’ is correct. India was independent in 1947 and Goa was still under the Portuguese rule. During the formation of National Anthem of India, Goa was not included in the song, which shows that Goa is not the integral part of India.

After the liberation of Goa in 1961, Goa was robbed by the Indian Army and made the integral part of India and made as a 25^th State of India.

Since 1961, Mineral ore has been explored by the non-goans such as Timblo’s, Chowgule’s, Gosalia’s, Salgaokar’s, Dempo’s, Sesa Goa, etc. and looted the wealth of goans from Goa. Did any goans benefit from the mineral ore? All the income (percentage) of the ore went to the centre before Goa made as a state. They did not have a fund reserve for the goans, I mean the government of India. Who to blame? I say the first Chief Minister of Goa, Bahusaeb Dayanand Bandodkar, who made ample money by helping the above non-goans. He was the main responsible person to bring the non-goans into Goa with the help of Y.B. Chavan of Maharastra.

Imagine, till today 2008, Goa lacks the Infrastructure of modern roads, proper water supply to all parts of Goa, modern electricity, i.e. underground cable system, closed door transformer houses in each villages, etc, which are the most important things in each and every goans life. No proper Medical trauma centers in Goa.

We have a Goa Medical College at Bambolim but lacks proper management and ruled by cruel managers. Margao Hospicio is the same old hospital in the salcete which was built by the Portuguese which needs infrastructure and developments and since more than 46 years Goa became liberated, the government did not bother to give an infrastructure to Margao Hospicio hospital. Like same, there are many small government hospitals in different parts of Goa which are still need to be developed.

There are many latest hospitals are built by the private managers who are also non-goans, but Margao Hospicio Hospital is the home for the poors who cannot afford to pay for the top services. I still remember my childhood days when I used to go with my parents and relatives to pay the visit to the sick patients from my village admitted there. I love the moments of my childhood.

Does Goa needs the developments such as above which I mentioned?

The garbage issues are the most critical issue in throughout Goa. We need to solve it as fast as possible. Who is responsible for not having the garbage issue solved? It is the government first and we all goans.

During my childhood days, I never heard there was a garbage issue. We used to burn the garbage and made use in our fields, etc. But now most of the fields are not cultivated and lots of buildings are built in all over Goa. Peoples are living in the flats and where do the garbage go? Therefore, you need a garbage disposal area to dump and recycle, so garbage recycling plants are required. Goans should understand first and demands to recycle the garbage at the earliest.

Having second International Airport at MOPA will not solve the Garbage disposal issue. But do you know MOPA International Airport is built more than 3000 crores of rupees. It would be best if the said amount is being used for the infrastructure and developments of Goa, such as garbage disposal plants, water supply, roads, electricity of our own, Best Trauma Centers, etc.

And lastly, Goans are charged high airfares to travel to Goa from Gulf countries by Indian Airlines more any other Indians being the shortest distance and it is 100% true.

Santana Piedade Afonso – Kuwait/Goa.
sales.hotlinegtce@gmail.com