SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: The Srinagar International Airport is the only one Airport in India which is not functioning as an International Airport despite being recognised as an international Airport. This Airport has access to Haj flights during the Haj season.Till date, only one international flight has been seen at this airport which was Dubai to Srinagar flight, and arrived at Airport many years back. Srinagar International Airport lacks night landing system even though the proposal had been cleared by Indian Air Force (IAF), which controls the run-way and apron areas of the airport. The terminal building of the airport is controlled by the AAI. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had decided to start night flight operation at Srinagar International Airport three years ago and on 15 August 2019, it was announced that the flights would start from October 2, but the project was later put on hold ,in the wake of center’s decision to revoke the Article 370. The Srinagar International Airport has recently witnessed a sharp increase in the number of flights as well as passenger footfall with sizable tourist inflow. The spurt in passengers number is being seen at a time when there has been a drop in COVID cases across several states. On July 7, 2021 Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla convened a high-level meeting to review possibility of operationalizing commercial flights at night hours at Srinagar and Jammu Airports by incorporating suitable facilities and arrangements.
During the meeting Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta informed that to improve night visibility at Srinagar airport, efforts are afoot to complete the lighting project at the earliest which would facilitate flights even during the year-long low visibility. It has also been revealed, Civil Aviation Ministry is planning to establish the international connectivity through Srinagar Airport which is currently operating international flights for the Haj pilgrimage only. Notably,the tourism sector in Kashmir has been badly effected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and those who are associated with tourism sector are in a distress, facing a situation of distress especially among Houseboat owners, Taxi operators, Shikarawalas and Tour and Travel Operators in particular. Many Shikarawalas and Taxi operators told STATE TIMES, that the tourism sector in Kashmir is about to collapse and the COVID pandemic proved as last nail in the coffin. “We are very happy with the news that Srinagar Airport is witnessing a good footfall of tourists. If LG administration takes more steps to boost the tourism industry by launching night and international flights at Srinagar Airport, these will really help the tourism sector in Kashmir,” Gh. Mohammad, a Taxi operator said. Tour and travel operators are also very optimistic and are eagerly waiting for night flights as well as international flight operations.They said ,that as the COVID cases in major cities of the country are gradually decreasing, it is expected that the flow of tourist will pick up. According to officials of the Srinagar Airport ,it is a good sign for the tourism industry, with more than8,000 passengers travelling in 64 flights in a single day . The Airport Authorities asserted that all the COVID protocols are being followed at the Airport terminal for passenger handling and other daily operations and no one is allowing travel without face masks.
As per AAI data, in February this year the Srinagar Airport witnessed 2,54,458 passenger footfall; 3,01,887 in March; 2,54,463 in April; 91,507 in May; 1,65,126 in June and 2,45,630 passenger footfall in July this year. The annual number of passengers at Srinagar airport is expected to increase sharply from the current 3 to 4 million passengers in the next few years, for which the Airport is all set for a terminal expansion, a project likely to begin early next year.