Govt exploring alternatives for flights Ops during J&K Investors’ Summit-19

JAMMU: The authorities have reassured of exploring alternative options after sparking uncertainty over VIP movement during J&K’s ambitious ‘Investors’ Summit 2019’ with their decision to shut the Jammu Airport for first half of October, which is incidentally concurrent with the dates of the summit.

The first ever J&K Investors’ Summit 2019, is to commence on 12th October in Srinagar, while its closing ceremony will be held in Jammu on 14th October. Sightseeing, workshops, technical sessions are scheduled for all three days, in different parts of J&K. However, lack of coordination among various government agencies triggered trouble for the upcoming event.

While the government was gearing up for the summit, authorities owning the Jammu Airport decided to suspend flight operations for at least 15 days, starting from October 1, to resurface the runway – coinciding with the dates of the investors’ summit.

“We are aware of the fact that the state is going to hold investors’ summit in October. We are working on a solution, so as to not trouble the participants coming from India and abroad,” said Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Jammu.

When asked for an alternate arrangement for the VIP movement, especially during investors’ summit, SSP Jammu Airport Mohammad Aslam said that the call would be taken by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

“The Director Airport Jammu has written to BCAS Director, requesting him not to completely shut the airport, while working on the runway resurfacing,” he said.

“BCAS is yet to decide on the issue. Keeping in view the investors’ summit, the airport closure dates can be preponed or postponed, as the case may be,” he added.

The authorities are also exploring the options of operating flights from Udhampur and Pathankot, which are situated at considerable distance from Jammu. It is pertinent to mention here that the Srinagar Airport is open for normal flight operations.

Interestingly, online booking portals including Paytm, Goibibo and MakeMyTrip have stopped bookings any flights to and from Jammu Airport for the said time period. As per reports, currently, 25 different companies operate flights regularly from Jammu airport.

Jammu Airport, which is in operation since 1985, belongs to Indian Air Force and Airports Authority of India.
Updated On 8/24/2019 11:20:13 AM