Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Saturday said that two new airport terminals shall be established in Jammu & Kashmir soon.
In another important announcement the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said the Union Minister and J&K Government agreed to start the first international flight between Srinagar – Sharjah soon, ending the long pending demand of the UT to have direct international connectivity.
“Similarly runway at the Jammu Airport has been enhanced and the 30% load penalty at Jammu airport will be removed from 1st October. It will bring huge relief to the airlines and passengers. We have also decided to build a new airport terminal adjacent to the existing airport at Jammu. The land measuring 122 acres has already been identified. It will soon be handed over to the Airports Authority of India to build a state-of-the-art 25,000 Sqm new terminal building,” Lt Governor said.
As a major development, the Minister said that an airport terminal worth Rs 1,500 crore shall be established on 25 thousand square metres in Kashmir, while another airport terminal worth Rs. 650 crore shall be established in Jammu on 22 thousand square metres land size.
He said that since a special focus is being given on development of both air and road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, a major road network including highways, ring road, tunnels and other projects are being constructed across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Minister said that the development of connectivity shall bring more tourists to J&K and promote local craft. He said that the promotion of tourism and crafts shall boost economic activity and prosperity of people of J&K.
Scindia said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, an era of peace, progress and development has already started in Jammu and Kashmir and all the three regions including Ladakh have come on track to become number one in construction and development in the country.
He said that among other major projects, work was going on in full swing on the ring road worth Rs 3000 crore, while as 100 percent households are being supplied electricity now, made possible by current dispensation.
The Minister said currently 82 percent of the population is connected and being supplied tap water, however, the Government is committed to cover all households in near future.