J-K: Union Minister Jitendra Singh reviews flight operations from Udhampur airport terminal

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday reviewed the progress of a project to start air services from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, and announced that civilian flights will commence within the next seven months from an interim terminal building at the Air Force station.

Chairing a high-level review meeting in Udhampur, the minister said a proposal for the acquisition of additional land is being pursued with the support of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led Government to enable the development of a full-fledged airport at Udhampur in the coming years.

“With existing facilities and interim arrangements, flight operations are targeted to be operationalised within the next 6-7 months,” he said, lauding a close coordination between the IAF and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to expedite the process.

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Sameer Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Civil Aviation, Government of J&K, Naveen SL, AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Executive Director (Planning) Nandita Bhatt, besides other dignitaries, attended the meeting. Singh, Minister of State at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), highlighted that the Chenab region has received focused attention after 2014, with close monitoring by the prime minister, reflecting the Government's initiative for inclusive and regional development.