
Thiruvananthapuram, 06 March (H.S.): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Union government to take immediate measures to assist Indian nationals stranded in several Middle East countries due to a severe shortage of flights and steep airfares.
In a letter dated March 5, the Chief Minister said that a large number of expatriates — including many from Kerala — were facing serious distress as they were unable to secure affordable travel options to return to India. According to him, the limited number of chartered and scheduled flights currently operating from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has left thousands of Indians stranded.
Vijayan urged the Union government to intervene and engage with airlines and aviation authorities to increase the number of services to India, particularly to major destinations and Tier-2 cities that receive large numbers of returning expatriates. Expanding flight connectivity, he said, would help stranded passengers return home without further delays.
The Chief Minister also proposed the creation of a centralized registration system to identify and prioritise the most vulnerable passengers awaiting repatriation. He suggested that such a system could be operated through Indian diplomatic missions abroad or through a dedicated online portal managed by the Union government.
According to Vijayan, priority should be given to individuals facing urgent circumstances, including the sick, elderly, pregnant women, children and those experiencing financial hardship. He also recommended that state governments be regularly informed about repatriation arrangements so they can coordinate support services for returning passengers upon arrival in India.
Expressing concern over rising airfares, Vijayan pointed out that several airlines were charging unusually high prices for chartered flights from the Gulf to India, with ticket costs rising several times above normal levels. He called on the Union government to regulate fares during the current crisis and prevent passengers from being exploited.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to the difficulties faced by Indian nationals in Gulf countries on tourist or visit visas who are struggling to secure return flights.
In addition, Vijayan highlighted the plight of travellers stranded at major GCC transit hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait following sudden flight cancellations and airspace closures. Many passengers, he noted, were stuck without luggage, accommodation or local contacts.
He urged the Union government to establish a dedicated helpline or registration channel for such transit passengers and requested urgent intervention to ensure the safe and timely return of stranded Indians.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman