Passenger traffic up but infra upgrade yet to begin at Srinagar airport

While passenger traffic at Srinagar airport has registered growth this year, a proposed infrastructure upgrade to accommodate the growing passenger rush is yet to take off.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) data reveal that in2018-19, Srinagar airport witnessed a 12.2% growth in passenger traffic(domestic and international) followed by Sri Guru Ram Das Jee InternationalAirport, Amritsar (8.8%).

   

J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted about therecorded growth: “Need we say more?”

 The data reveals thatin 2018-19, 27.37 lakh passengers travelled through the Srinagar airport forboth domestic and international flights, a 12.2%-jump over 2017-18.

To enhance its capacity, the recently-approved Master Planof Srinagar metropolitan region had pitched for upgrade of infrastructurefacilities and night-landing facilities at the airport that is of the preferredtourist destinations in the country.

The need for enhancement was felt because the airport has asmaller

parking area for aircraft landings and take-offs. TheAirport Authority of India (AAI) last year said they are going to set in motionthe upgradation of the airport by awarding the Rs 500-crore contract to RitesInfrastructure Ltd, a government of India enterprise, for infrastructureenhancement at the aerodrome.

The expansion of the airport was planned after the Uniontourism ministry recommended its upgradation, stating that failure to upgradeits facilities would lead to “bad publicity of Kashmir tourism sector”.

However, due the unknown reasons, the expansion was notcarried out. Under the expansion plan, the floor area of the airport wassupposed to be doubled to around 33,000 sq m from the existing 16,700 sq m. Toaccommodate more flights, the airport would have also two new aircraft stands.

Currently, more than 35 flights operate from the aerodromeper day. The airport, surrounded by dozens of villages and fruit orchards, isbuilt over more than 65 acres of land.

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