Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has proposed an alternative for the closure of the airport in Srinagar so that the operations could continue smoothly without affecting the travel of people to Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the Centre to review the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16 next year, stating that the suspension of flights during the peak autumn tourism season could adversely affect the economy and livelihoods of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
During separate meetings in New Delhi with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Omar raised apprehensions over the airport’s runway resurfacing project.
Abdullah informed the Union Ministers due to earlier phases of the resurfacing programme air services to Kashmir have already been affected since April, a complete shutdown of flight operations during the first half of October would have a significant impact on tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts and other sectors.
In his meeting with Rajnath Singh, Omar asked the Indian Air Force to examine the possibility of shortening or phasing the final stage of the runway works without compromising safety or operational requirements. He also suggested the use of Awantipora Air Base incase of complete closure of Srinagar Airport.
Omar recalled that civil flights had operated from Awantipora during runway resurfacing works in September 2010 through coordination between the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation. “We are working on possible alternatives to minimise the disruption and maintain a basic flight schedule as was done in the past when the airport closed for similar reasons in 1998 and 2010,” Omar said.
During his meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Naidu, the Chief Minister sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Defence on reviewing the timing of Phase III works.
