Mangalore : Karnataka NRI Forum  Co-coordinator Rajesh Sequeira has said that the Forum would work towards  pressurizing the authorities to start more direct flights from Mangalore to  Gulf and Middle East nations.

Speaking to reporters in Mangalore on January 2, Wednesday, he said  the Forum has already been successful in pressurizing the authorities to start private  airlines between (Jet Airways) between Mangalore and Dubai, scheduled to kick start on January 3.

 He said the Forum in association with West Coast NRI forum from Dammam and Karavali Welfare Association, Riyadh   will work towards pressurizing the authorities to have more direct flights  to other destinations.

He also expressed gratitude to several including Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde and others for pursuing the cause of the Forum.

M R Vasudeva, former director of Mangalore Airport and Co-ordinator of KNRIF,  said already 25,000 people from Saudi have provided their passport numbers stating that they need direct flights from Mangalore.

Narayan Bhat, Member of West Coast NRI Forum, Dubai, Walter Nandalike, chief editor of Daijiworld.com and others were present