Udhampur Airport all set to become operational soon
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 27: Udhampur Airport is all set to become operational soon while a high-level special team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), will visit Kishtwar from October 28-29 to assess the feasibility of developing an airport there under the UDAN scheme.
These initiatives are part of the Government of India’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity and provide affordable travel options to residents of far-flung areas.
The 5-member team will reach Kishtwar tomorrow and evaluate the status of the proposal for developing an airport there, focusing on aspects such as land acquisition, infrastructure requirements, and operational feasibility.
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Following their two -day visit, the team members will submit a detailed report to higher authorities, outlining their findings and recommendations.
Based on this report, a roadmap for further development will be charted out.
Sharing the information in a post on X, Union Minister and local Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Dr Jitendra Singh expressed his satisfaction that the Government’s initiatives for the development of remote areas, including Kishtwar, have received positive responses from the Prime Minister’s Office. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special priority for far-flung regions has been instrumental in driving progress in these areas.
“As a result of PM @NarendraModi’s special priority for far-flung regions, it is gratifying that each of our requests and initiative for the development of the remote areas has always received a positive response,” he said in the post.
The proposed airport development under the UDAN scheme is expected to boost the regional economy, particularly the agricultural sector, by providing better connectivity and access to markets. Local saffron cultivators are likely to benefit significantly from this initiative. The project will also enhance passenger convenience, promote economic growth, and foster greater integration of the region with the national mainstream.
Pertinent to mention that UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme is the Government initiative that aims to connect smaller cities and town and it subsidizes a portion of the airfare through viability gap funding thus making flights more affordable. The proposed Kishtwar airport was included in the UDAN Scheme on the initiative of Dr Jitendra Singh, to improve regional connectivity and boost local economy by providing affordable air travel.
Meanwhile, while talking to media persons after inaugurating BioNEST Incubator at Industrial Biotechnology Park in Ghati, Kathua, Dr Jitendra Singh also informed that the Udhampur Airport is all set to become operational soon.
“The airport will initially operate with ATR 72-seater aircraft without needing additional land for initial operations,” he disclosed.
The Union Minister added that the airport’s operationalization has been finalized, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) agreeing to develop the required infrastructure at the existing premises.
The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase involving the initiation of ATR civil flight operations within the existing premises of the Air Force Station.
For bigger aircraft operations in phase two, the Airport Authority of India has already approached the J&K Government for the transfer of additional land to construct a new terminal.
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