KL Report
SRINAGAR
In a major development, the defense ministry has extended landing facility at Srinagar airport till 10 pm. The decesion was conveyed by the defence minister A K Antony to the Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on july 12.
Jairam had launched a campiagn for Srinagar airport getting the nightvlanding facility, a crucial permission that was denied to it for a long time. He had written a detailed letter the Prime minister last month demanding the facility to Srinagar at the earliest.
It was in response to this letter that Antony conveyed that orders have already been issued by tye Aur Headquarters for availability of watch towers for civilian flights till 2200 hours. Now flight can land and take off from Srinagar airport till 10 pm.
Srinagar airport that ceased to be international for lack if any international flights is getting around 33 flights a day. But it closes well before 6 pm as the IAF withdraws the facility.
Though the order is not a complete withdrawal on the unwritten ban on night landing, it is the beginning towards undoing this facility. This can help aircrafts land at Srinagar till late in the evening and help the airport become less crowded during the day.
