Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday reviewed the progress of plans to start air services from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and announced that civilian flights are expected to begin within the next six to seven months.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Udhampur, the minister said flight operations will initially start from an interim terminal building at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station. He added that efforts are underway to acquire additional land, with support from the Omar Abdullah-led J&K government, to develop a full-fledged airport in the coming years.
“With existing facilities and interim arrangements, flight operations are targeted to be operationalised within the next 6–7 months,” Singh said, praising the close coordination between the IAF and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for speeding up the process.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Sameer Kumar Sinha; Secretary, Civil Aviation, J&K, Naveen S L; AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; Executive Director (Planning) Nandita Bhatt, and other senior officials.
Singh, who is also Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, said the Chenab region has received special focus since 2014 under the close monitoring of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the government’s push for inclusive and balanced regional development. He noted that regular review meetings by the Civil Aviation Ministry have helped fast-track decisions and resolve inter-departmental issues.
Highlighting the benefits of improved air connectivity, the minister said it will make travel easier and boost socio-economic activities across the Chenab region, particularly benefiting four districts. He also said similar connectivity projects are being taken up in Kishtwar under the UDAAN scheme.
Singh added that his home constituency, Udhampur, is emerging as a major connectivity hub with air, rail and road links. He said the Udhampur railway station has been developed as an Amrit station and the region is being connected through an express corridor, making travel to Delhi and other major cities more convenient.(KINS)
