Omar Abdullah Proposes Awantipora Flights if Srinagar Airport Shuts for Runway Works

Ziraat Times News Desk

New Delhi, June 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday took up the issue of the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, urging a review of the schedule to minimise disruption to tourism, connectivity and economic activity in Jammu and Kashmir.

During separate meetings in New Delhi, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the planned closure of the airport from October 1 to 16, 2026, for Phase III of the runway resurfacing project.

While acknowledging that the resurfacing work is necessary for operational safety and respecting the assessment of the Indian Air Force, Abdullah said the timing of the final phase coincides with the peak autumn tourism season, when the Valley witnesses a large influx of visitors from across the country.

He informed the Union Ministers that flight operations to Kashmir had already been affected since April due to earlier phases of the runway upgrade programme and warned that a complete suspension of air services during the first half of October could adversely impact tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts and other sectors that support thousands of livelihoods in the region.

The Chief Minister said the proposed closure could lead to widespread travel disruptions, cancellations and inconvenience for both residents and tourists, while affecting business activity during a crucial period for the local economy.

In his meeting with the Defence Minister, Abdullah requested that the Indian Air Force explore the possibility of shortening or phasing the final stage of the resurfacing work without compromising safety and operational requirements.

He also proposed that if a complete closure of Srinagar Airport becomes unavoidable, limited civil flight operations may be permitted from the Awantipora Air Base during the shutdown period to maintain essential air connectivity.

Referring to his previous tenure as Chief Minister, Abdullah recalled that civil flights had operated from Awantipora during runway resurfacing works in 2010 under a coordinated arrangement involving the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.

“We are working on possible alternatives to minimise the disruption and maintain a basic flight schedule as was done in the past when the airport closed for similar reasons in 1998 and 2010,” he said.

During his meeting with the Civil Aviation Minister, the Chief Minister sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Defence on reviewing the timing of the final phase of the project, including the possibility of shortening, phasing or shifting the closure to a less busy travel period.

He also urged the Centre to examine contingency measures in coordination with the Indian Air Force to ensure continued air connectivity to the Valley if the closure cannot be avoided.

Abdullah emphasised that any alternative operational arrangement would require extensive inter-agency coordination and advance planning and therefore should be initiated well before the scheduled closure period.