Aaditya Thackeray seeks coordination with Centre on Vande Bharat flights

Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray has said Civil Aviation Ministry should coordinate with state governments on repatriation flights under Vande Bharat Mission for effectively reaching out to Indians stranded around world.

In a letter, dated June 29, to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Thackeray said most evacuees are in touch with ir respective state governments.

Thackeray said in his earlier communication to Ministry of External Affairs and managing director of Air India, he had requested flights for Middle East, Australia, Russia along with or routes.

"Although some flights were organised, we need many more for same," minister said in his letter.

Vande Bharat Mission-4 schedule has been handed over to state. "re is t a single flight from Middle East to Maharashtra, despite repeated requests from state and people stuck in Middle East," he said.

All 21 flights under fourth phase of Vande Bharat Mission from seven cities of six countries are hopping flights, which means t many passengers would be from Maharashtra.

"We would like you to address this issue and injustice meted out to Maharashtra. Every state should have its people repatriated, but it should be in equal measure and in a fair way," minister said.

He said feedback from those who have already come back is about unaffordable air fares for repatriationand poor in-flight facilities provided against it, like food quality, delays and absence of food services at hop-overs.

"This causes more stress to ones being repatriated from various countries after a stressful extended stay abroad," he said.

central government started Vande Bharat Mission on May 6 to help stranded people reach ir destinations using special repatriation flights.

Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to coronavirus pandemic. 

Im credits: Twitter