Srinagar, May 22: The Defence Minister, A K Antony has written to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah that there would be no closure of Srinagar Airport during the tourist season. The up-gradation will go on without hampering civil operation of air traffic from the Srinagar Airport, an official spokesman said on Saturday.  
 Pertinently, the Chief Minister had urged the Defence Minister to ensure that Srinagar Airport is not closed for upgradation during tourist season to avoid inconvenience to tourists and locals.  
 Omar had suggested improvement of the Airport without shifting the civil air operation to Awantipora in south Kashmir.
 Air-force authority had asked for closure of Airport for about a month during this season to undertake urgent necessary improvement works and shifting of the civil air operation to Awantipora.
 The issue was discussed with high level state officers at Srinagar in which state officers did not agree  to the idea of closing the Airport for the period of one month during the tourist season. However, no decision was taken in that meeting and Chief Minister took up the issue with Defence Minister,  A K Antony.
 Subsequently, another meeting was held at New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Defence Secretary, Pradeep Kumar and represented by Principal Secretary Civil Aviation, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai from the state. The issue was discussed threadbare.
 Recognizing the Chief Minister’s view point and the concern about the issue, the Union Defence Minister today conveyed the decision of his Ministry to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah that no closure of Srinagar Airport would take place during the current tourist season. If there would be any dire need of any most urgent repair works, the airport will remain closed for a week in the month of September

Lastupdate on : Sat, 22 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 22 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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