Hyderabad: Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy today stressed the need for direct flight services to Atlanta from India. The minister, who is on US tour Tuesday interacted with some of Telangana NRI associations like Gates, NATA, ATA and others. Participating in the “Meet and Greet” program, the minister interacted with NRIs and promised to make vigorous efforts for providing direct flight to Atlanta from India. Though about four lakh of NRIs, majority of whom were Telanganaites, are living in Atlanta and have no direct flight from India, he lamented. This was compelling them to reach Dubai, London and then to the US, he pointed out. Mahender Reddy said efforts will be made by the State Government to exert pressure on the Centre and Civil Aviation Minister to press in Air India flights. The issue will be brought to the notice of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to talk with the Centre and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for pressing in direct flight facility to Atlanta he said. The minister appealed to the NRIs to celebrate Telangana Formation Day on June 2 on a grand scale. He also called upon the NRIs to come up with investments to partner with Telagnana growth. He said Chief Minister KCR gave Rs 1,000 crore budgetary allocations for strengthening the TSRTC to provide better connectivity. The three year rule of TRS Government was making rapid strides in every sector and giving priority for welfare, projects completion and development. He also cited the examples of Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya and others. NRI leaders present were Dayakar Reddy, Anil, Sridhar, Krishna Reddy, Nithin, Praveen, Venkat and others. (NSS)

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