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Fearing a antagonistic interaction connected tourism, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah connected Friday (June 12, 2026) expressed interest implicit the projected closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16 this twelvemonth and met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu successful New Delhi.
A spokesperson of the J&K authorities said Mr. Abdullah, during the meetings, underscored the value of maintaining uninterrupted aerial connectivity to the Union Territory, “particularly during the highest autumn tourism play erstwhile the Kashmir Valley attracts a ample fig of visitors from crossed the country”.
Runway resurfacing work
The projected closure of the airdrome from October 1 to 16 is scheduled nether Phase-3 of the runway resurfacing project.
Mr. Abdullah acknowledged that the resurfacing works are indispensable for operational information and afloat respected the operational appraisal of the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, helium expressed interest implicit the timing of the last signifier of the project, “which coincides with 1 of the busiest periods for the tourism sector”.
The spokesperson said the Chief Minister informed the Union Ministers that aerial services to the vale person already been curtailed since April owing to the earlier phases of the resurfacing programme.
“A complete suspension of flights during the archetypal fractional of October would adversely impact tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts and allied sectors that prolong thousands of livelihoods crossed Jammu & Kashmir,” said Mr. Abdullah.
In his gathering with the Defence Minister, the spokesperson said Mr. Abdullah requested the Indian Air Force to analyse the anticipation of shortening oregon phasing the last signifier of the runway works without compromising information oregon operational requirements.
He besides projected that successful the lawsuit that implicit closure of Srinagar Airport becomes unavoidable, the operational capableness of the Awantipora Air Base “may beryllium permitted from the aerial basal during the closure play to guarantee indispensable aerial connectivity for the region”.
Recalling his earlier tenure arsenic Chief Minister, Mr. Abdullah noted that during the runway resurfacing works successful September 2010, civilian flights had successfully operated from Awantipora nether a coordinated statement involving the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.
In his gathering with the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Abdullah besides sought involution to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Defence connected reviewing the timing of Phase-3, including the anticipation of shortening, phasing oregon shifting the closure to a leaner question model without compromising information requirements.
He urged that contingency arrangements beryllium explored successful coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force “to guarantee continued aerial connectivity to the Valley successful the lawsuit the closure remains unavoidable”.
