union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today disclosed that Udhampur airport operationalisation has been finalised, while the proposed Kishtwar airport has been included in the “UDAN” scheme.
The Minister was reviewing the aviation plans for Jammu and Kashmir, underlining their importance for improving regional connectivity and providing affordable travel options to residents as well from the point of view of security.
At the meeting attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Samir Kumar Sinha and the Chairman of Airports Authority of India, Vipin Kumar, Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the status of the aviation projects for J&K and called for fast-tracking the necessary approvals and technical work.
The union Minister emphasised that the Udhampur airport could initially begin operations with ATR 72-seater aircraft under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN), which would cap ticket fares at nearly half the prevailing market rates.
In other words, the airfare for a Delhi-Udhampur flight will be considerably and substantially lesser than a Delhi-Jammu flight, thus offering a huge incentive to even Jammu-bound passengers to take the Delhi-Udhampur air route, the officials explained.
Officials explained that under the UDAN scheme, a substantial part of the airfare will be subsidised through viability gap funding.
This would not only make flights more affordable but also bring Delhi–Udhampur fares substantially lower than the Delhi–Jammu route.
Dr. Singh noted this would be a major relief for students and young professionals, who often face steep travel costs.
The Airports Authority of India has agreed to take up the required development, including navigational and basic facilities, without requiring additional land for initial operations, as the apron space will be made available by the defence authorities. The first phase of operations is expected to take around six months.
On Kishtwar, Dr. Singh noted that earlier attempts to develop the airstrip faced hurdles due to land beyond Army possession that required acquisition, potentially costing crores of rupees.
Fresh feasibility and land assessment studies are now being initiated to find a workable solution. Referring to Kishtwar as an “aspirational agricultural district”, he highlighted that an airport there would boost the region’s economy, particularly the agricultural economy by helping local saffron cultivators and farmers reach wider markets.
The Minister said he would personally take up the matter of land requisition, wherever required, with the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also proposed convening a coordination meeting with the Divisional Commissioner and AAI officials to move the projects forward.
Dr. Singh also reviewed the ongoing expansion of Jammu airport, which is being upgraded at a cost of around Rs 860 crore with a deadline of June 2026.
The expanded facility, part of a larger push to strengthen aviation infrastructure across the country, is expected to significantly enhance passenger handling capacity. Recent months have seen new terminals opened in Patna and Pune, with Mumbai’s expansion nearing completion.
Highlighting the broader impact, Dr Singh said that improving air connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir is crucial not only for passenger convenience but also for economic growth, tourism and greater integration of the region with national mainstream.
