Airport to shut down on Sept One; JK govt wants alternative

SRINAGAR: Kashmir airport will be closed for air traffic from September one for at least 15 days for repair work on the runways as Jammu and Kashmir government has set afoot steps to defer it or make the airline operators agree to use another airport in South Kashmir.

The state Government will be approaching Civil Aviation and Defence Ministries reasoning that complete closure of the airport would create a chaos-like situation in the Valley keeping in view the coming Eid Festival on September 12 or 13.

Many people, working outside the Valley, will be coming to their homes during the festival and the closure of airport would only result in their unwanted harassment, senior state officials said.

The Government had earlier agreed to carry out necessary repairs on the runways of the Srinagar airport, manned by the Indian Air Force, on the condition that the civilian traffic would migrate to Awantipura airport in South Kashmir, 35 kms from here.

However, all air operators including Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and other low-cost carriers have expressed their inability to operate from Awantipora because of non-availability of infrastructure.

The airport, which is located in Budgam district of Kashmir, handles 12 to 14 flights with nearly 3000 inward and outward-bound passengers.

The government wanted the IAF to work otherwise on a proposal of the Civil Aviation Ministry who have submitted a plan whereby resurfacing work as well as airport operations can go on simultaneously, the sources said.

The Defence Ministry has communicated to the state government that the airport would be shut down for civilian traffic from September one onwards for nearly 15 days to enable carrying out resurfacing of the runway.

Defence Ministry was planning to go ahead with resurfacing of runway in June but had to defer its proposal due to pressure from the state government.

During upgradation of the airport in mid-2000, the civilian traffic was diverted to Awantipora air field in South Kashmir.