The Srinagar airport would soon be equipped with night-landing facility for which all preparations are being done by the agencies concerned.

This was disclosed in a high-level meet held in Srinagar on Monday with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in chair.

The introduction of the facility would give a big push to the tourism sector in particular besides further improving the connectivity with other areas of the country and also help in improving the economy of the state as well.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has granted necessary permission for operating night flights and the necessary infrastructural upgrade in this regard is being done by the Airports Authority of India and other state agencies.

The Chief Minister directed completion of all these upgrades within a month’s time so that the facility is thrown open in view of the tourist season in the Kashmir Valley. She directed immediate release of Rs. 3.86 crore for meeting the expenses of raising ancillary infrastructural facilities for night hours at the airport for the convenience of travellers and the staff.

Mehbooba Mufti also directed the agencies concerned to take measures for minimising the rush of the traffic on the road leading to Srinagar airport from Humhama. She asked for exploring the suggestions of putting more body scanners at the gate, widening of entry road from the gate up to the terminal building and use of buses for taking passengers inside the airport.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the pace of work on the expansion of Jammu Airport and directed early start of works on the expansion of the runway for which the tenders have already been floated. She directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and Jammu Airport authorities to complete the formalities of exchange of land with Army authorities to start the work on runway expansion at the earliest.

It was informed that 375 kanals of land have been transferred to the Animal Husbandry Department in lieu of their land at Belicharan and rest of the land would be provided to them at Chatta.

Mehbooba Mufti directed the Jammu Airport authorities and Jammu Divisional administration to explore, in the meantime, extension of landing hours at the Jammu airport beyond 5pm and take measures required in this regard.

The Chief Minister also directed the Jammu Divisional administration to identify spots for construction of Greenfield airport at Jammu.