Chartered airplanes to bring back Kannadigas from Saudi Arabia, UAE

Team Udayavani, Jun 1, 2020, 2:02 PM IST

Mangaluru: Though the Indian government has brought many citizens back to India under ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, there are many Karnataka based people who are stranded in the middle east. Hence, few Karnataka-based businessmen in Saudi Arabia have planned to bring Kannadigas back to their native.

Two businessmen from Mangaluru settled in Saudi Arabia are preparing to bring 167 people from Saudi Arabia to Mangaluru and awaiting the central government’s permission for this.

Altaf Ullal, Managing Director of Saad Al-Qatani Contracting Company, and CEO Basheer Sagar have already booked a private plane to bring 167 people at their own expense. They claim they have arranged this because there is no arrangement from the Indian government to bring back Kannadigas from Saudi Arabia under the Vande Bharat Mission.

The charge for each ticket would cost Rs. 20,000 per passenger and in total it would be around, 45 lakh. The amount will be borne by the two businessmen.

Meanwhile, a non-resident businessman, Praveen Kumar Shetty has arranged a charter flight for SpiceJet to Mangaluru from the UAE to bring back employees of Fortune Group of Hotels, which is expected to arrive in Mangaluru on June 1.

There are chances that the flight will also bring back other hotel employees. along with Fortune Group’s employees. Praveen Shetty will bear all of their travel expenses.

Praveen Shetty has informed in a social networking site that they have sought permission from the Consulate General of UAE and the Government of India to carry out this operation.