Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, June 12

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged the Centre to review the proposed closure of Srinagar Airport in October, warning that a suspension of flight operations during the peak autumn tourism season could hurt the region’s economy and disrupt connectivity.

Abdullah raised the issue during separate meetings with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi, where he sought alternatives to the planned shutdown of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to October 16 under the third phase of a runway resurfacing project.

While acknowledging the need for resurfacing works and respecting the operational assessment of the Indian Air Force, Abdullah said the timing of the closure coincided with one of the busiest periods for tourism in Kashmir.

He told the ministers that flight operations had already been affected since April because of earlier phases of the runway upgrade programme and said a complete closure in October would adversely impact tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts and other sectors that support thousands of livelihoods in Jammu and Kashmir.

The chief minister said the shutdown could trigger travel disruptions and booking cancellations, affecting both residents and visitors during a critical period for the local economy.

During his meeting with Singh, Abdullah requested that the Indian Air Force examine whether the final phase of the project could be shortened or carried out in stages without compromising operational requirements or safety standards.

He also proposed that, if a complete closure of Srinagar Airport proves unavoidable, limited civil flight operations be allowed from the Indian Air Force base at Awantipora to maintain essential air connectivity to the region.

Abdullah said a similar arrangement had been implemented during runway resurfacing works in 2010 through coordination between the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.

“We are working on possible alternatives to minimise the disruption and maintain a basic flight schedule as was done in the past when the airport closed for similar reasons in 1998 and 2010,” Abdullah said.

In his meeting with Naidu, the chief minister sought the Civil Aviation Ministry’s support in discussions with the Defence Ministry on reviewing the timing of the final phase of the project, including the possibility of shortening, phasing or rescheduling the closure to a period of lower travel demand.

He also called for contingency planning involving the Defence Ministry and the Indian Air Force to ensure continued air connectivity if the closure proceeds as scheduled.

Abdullah said any alternative arrangement would require advance planning and coordination among multiple agencies and should be initiated well before the proposed closure period.