Key facts
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.
- Abdullah expressed concern over the proposed closure of Srinagar Airport from October 1 to October 16 for maintenance.
- He suggested operating limited civilian flights from Awantipora Air Base as an alternative.
- Abdullah highlighted the importance of maintaining air connectivity during the peak tourism season.
- He requested contingency arrangements to ensure continued air connectivity to the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Union ministers for Defence, Rajnath Singh, and Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, in New Delhi to voice concerns regarding the planned closure of Srinagar Airport for maintenance work. The airport is scheduled to be closed from October 1 to October 16 for resurfacing.
Abdullah expressed that the timing of the closure, coinciding with the peak autumn tourism season, would adversely affect tourism, hospitality, transport, and handicrafts sectors, impacting thousands of livelihoods. He noted that air services had already been reduced due to earlier phases of the resurfacing program.
To mitigate the disruption, Abdullah proposed operating a limited number of civilian flights from Awantipora Air Base, suggesting that similar arrangements were made in the past. He requested that the Indian Air Force examine options to shorten or phase the runway works without compromising safety. If a complete closure is unavoidable, he urged for contingency arrangements to be explored with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force to ensure essential air connectivity for the region.