Kashmir opens airport to international traffic

SRINAGAR: Kashmir opened its high-security airport to international traffic on Saturday in a move officials hope will lead to a tourism boom.

The upgraded airport terminal, equipped with modern features including escalators, aero-bridges, central heating systems and lifts, was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, the UPA chief.

Minutes later the inaugural flight, from Dubai, landed at summer capital Srinagar's international airport with over two dozen passengers.

Gandhi received the passengers as they disembarked from an Air India plane.

"It is a very happy moment for all of us," said Gandhi, adding that the new airport would "boost tourism and help the locals."

Around 30 Kashmiris were to fly to Dubai later Saturday.

The project to upgrade the airport was approved by the Indian government in January 2005, a year after India and Pakistan began a peace process to resolve their disputes, including one over Kashmir.

Initially, there will be a flight between Dubai and Srinagar every Saturday, India's civil aviation minister Praful Patil said.

"We will surely extend the service to other parts of the world," he said.