February 14: Problems are increasing as airlines are not interested in operating flights from Srinagar. A parliamentary panel has recommended the Centre and administration of Jammu and Kashmir to manage and sort out the arising situations. The reason for the same, as suggested in a report, seems to be the infrastructural situation of the Srinagar airport.
The committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs made the recommendation soon after the Centre submitted a report on their taken actions over the earlier suggestions of the panel.
The previous report suggested that the J-K government must work in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs engaging with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India in order to get the international flights operating from Sheikh ul-Alam Airport, Srinagar.
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The report further reads, “The committee recommends MHA to take up the matter with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and administration of UT of J-K and sort out the problems due to which the airlines are not interested in operating international flights from Srinagar. The result of such consultations may also be intimated to this Committee. The Committee also recommends that the infrastructure provided at Srinagar Airport must be improved for the same. Presently, no airline has shown interest in regular international air service from Srinagar. However, no regular international flights are operating from there and therefore, necessary immigration and customs staff is not posted on a permanent basis. The officials of Immigration and Customs, work from Srinagar Airport only during Hajj flights.”
