Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Travel to be a pleasure for NRKs


The pangs of Gulf Malayalis who are being squeezed by private airlines following the Air India strike have moved the state government into action.
Among the proposals being considered by the government to bring relief to the NRKs are starting a ship service from Kerala to the Gulf and reviving the ‘Kerala Airways’ project. Another ambitious plan is to launch a special bank for NRI investments.
The ship service project will be presented at the ‘Emerging Kerala’ summit this November. The idea is to provide Malayalis working in the Gulf nations with a cheaper mode of transportation, said NORKA Minister K C Joseph in the Assembly on Wednesday.
The Kerala Airways project was mooted by the previous UDF government, but it was shelved because to start an international air service, a minimum of five years’ experience in the domestic sector was essential.
But now, with private airlines increasing the fares arbitrarily, the government was reviving the project, he said.
The proposal to start a special bank for NRI investments has been placed before the Reserve Bank of India. The government was seriously looking at a mechanism whereby NRI investments can be effectively used for the state’s flagship projects such as mono-rail, Kochi Metro and the Kannur airport.
Currently an official delegation from the state is on a visit to ensure maximum participation in the ‘Emerging Kerala’ summit, he said. The state has also asked the Centre to appoint at least one Malayali in the embassies in the Gulf countries. The government also proposed to introduce Pravasi development bonds to ensure investments, he said

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