SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) decision to withdraw the proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the weekly closure of Srinagar International Airport’s runway, saying the move has brought huge relief to the tourism sector and prevented large-scale cancellations by visitors.
Describing the decision as a significant reprieve, Abdullah said the proposed closure of the airport every Monday and Tuesday for runway maintenance had begun affecting tourism, with several travel groups already cancelling their planned visits to Kashmir.
“This Monday-Tuesday thing was hitting us very hard. Just yesterday, I spoke to some people from the tourism sector, and many of their groups had started cancelling,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
Abdullah said he had been pursuing the matter with the Central Government since the proposal came to light and had personally raised it with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Ever since this news came out, I have been continuously making efforts. Within the Central Government, I spoke with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, and even when I met the Prime Minister, I raised the issue with him. If the outcome of this is that the Monday-Tuesday schedule will remain normal for now, it is a huge relief for us,” he said.
The Chief Minister, however, said that if runway maintenance necessitates closure of the airport in October, the authorities should explore operating commercial flights from the Awantipora Air Force Station to minimise inconvenience to passengers and safeguard the tourism industry.
In a post on social media, Abdullah thanked the Union ministers for responding positively to the request.
“Grateful to the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Sb and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu for acceding to our request and suspending the airport closure order. This closure had created a lot of difficulties for regular travellers and forced tour groups and tourists to cancel planned visits,” he wrote.
The decision was also welcomed by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which termed it a timely intervention that had averted serious economic and social consequences for Jammu and Kashmir.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga said the Chamber had immediately taken up the issue with both the Union Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration after concerns were raised by stakeholders from the tourism, trade, horticulture, healthcare and business sectors.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Government, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India and the Srinagar International Airport authorities for responding promptly to the concerns and ensuring uninterrupted air connectivity to the Valley.
Tenga said the proposed suspension of flight operations for two days every week during the peak tourist season had created widespread anxiety across Kashmir.
He said such a disruption would have severely affected tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy, travel agencies, transport operators, restaurants, handicrafts, retail businesses and thousands of families whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on tourism.
According to the Chamber, the proposed closure would also have caused serious hardship to patients travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir for specialised medical treatment, students, business travellers, employees and families requiring urgent travel. It would have disrupted the movement of perishable horticultural produce, affected business engagements and weakened investor and visitor confidence.
The KCCI described Srinagar Airport as the lifeline of Kashmir, saying uninterrupted air connectivity is vital for tourism, trade, horticulture exports, healthcare, education and the Union Territory’s overall economic development.
The Chamber also appreciated the airport authorities for opting to continue essential runway maintenance during night hours instead of enforcing the proposed weekly daytime closure.
It said the revised approach strikes a balance between ensuring operational safety and maintaining uninterrupted flight services, thereby protecting public convenience and the Valley’s economy.
