Flights Ops likely to be suspended from Jammu airport for half of Oct

JAMMU: The construction work for the expansion of Jammu Airport is likely to commence soon as the authorities would suspend flight operations in the month of October for 15 days.
“In the view of construction work to expand Jammu Airport and for passenger’s safety, no flights will take off or land at Jammu Airport for 15 days starting from October 1st to October 15th,” an official said.
In this regard, all the online booking portals are not showing any details of flights between Jammu Airport and any other airports across the country for the said dates.
However, the flights are available between Srinagar Airport and any other airports.
“Currently, 25 different companies operate flights regularly from Jammu airport. We have no option expect suspending flight operations,” he added.
The construction work for the airport expansion is in full swing since past 6-7 months, which was approved by Ministry of Defence in year 2013.
In the month of July 2019, the authorities had demolished several shops, which illegally come up with the boundary wall of the airport.
In the month of August, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court also pulled up state administration for delay in the expansion of airport. The court also sought detailed report from the Divisional commissioner of Jammu.
Moreover, on July 22, the Centre had given environment clearance for the expansion of runway at the Jammu Airport which had entailed an investment of Rs 92 crore.
Jammu airport, which is in operation since 1985, belongs to Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) maintains civil enclave for movement of passengers.
Presently the operational runway is 6,700 feet long and it is further being extended to 8,000 feet (1300 feet expansion) for night landing, adding, “day to day deliberations are also going on between the divisional administration, Indian Air Force authorities and the Airport Authorities regarding the expansion.'
Meanwhile, official sources said the process for expanding the existing runway from 6,700ft to 8,000ft to facilitate operations of aircraft with load penalty, will begin in days at an estimated cost of Rs 75 crore.
Airport Authority of India has expanded modified and upgraded the terminal building of Jammu Airport with enhanced passenger amenities, including doubling the area and per hour passenger handling capacity.
Earlier, the area of building was increased earlier from 6,750 sqm to 14,500 sqm with increased numbers of escalators and lifts while three aerobridges with additional taxing track were also commissioned.
Jammu Airport had 1.6 million passengers in FY17 and now the airport handles 50 aircraft movements.

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