Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has urged Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu to establish a direct flight between Mangaluru and Tirupati. Poojary highlighted the significant travel time faced by thousands of pilgrims from coastal Karnataka who currently rely on road or rail. He noted that existing train services are lengthy, and some pilgrims already travel to Shivamogga for flights to Tirupati. A direct Mangaluru-Tirupati flight would benefit pilgrims from Kasargod to Uttara Kannada districts.