STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: The Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Government has taken up with the Centre the issue of operating early morning and late night flights from the international airport here, and said a decision in this regard is likely to be taken soon.
“The matter regarding operation of early morning and late night flights from Srinagar Airport has been taken up with the authorities concerned in Government of India and a decision is likely to be taken soon,” senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra said after chairing a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Srinagar International Airport here.
Karra said starting early morning and late night flights to and from Srinagar Airport was urgent in view of the tourist season.
The PDP leader also called for operating direct flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
The meeting discussed various issues including naming of Srinagar International Airport as Sheikh-ul-Aalam International Airport, improving facilities, expansion of the terminal building and setting up of integrated cargo terminal among others.
“It was also decided in the meeting that the issue regarding naming of Srinagar International Airport as Sheikh-ul-Aalam International Airport would be taken up with the Government of India,” an official spokesman said.
He said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would be asked to improve facilities at the Airport to make it more people-friendly by installing vehicle scanner, increasing number of X-BIS machines at the drop gate and increasing number of entry gates at the terminal building.
The AAI would run a shuttle service from the drop-gate upto the terminal building of the Airport to facilitate passengers, he said.
The meeting decided that prepaid fares for taxis, duly authenticated by the Transport Department, would be displayed prominently for the convenience of the passengers, the spokesman said.
A waiting hall would be established outside the terminal building for the convenience of the people accompanying the passengers.
The other issues discussed in the meeting include making adequate heating arrangements inside the terminal building, improving washroom facilities and public address system and ensuring uninterrupted power supply, the spokesman said.
The meeting impressed upon the airlines to increase flight frequency on Srinagar-Leh sector, the spokesman said. (PTI)
