Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Feb 12 : A parliamentary panel has recommended to the Centre and administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory to sort out the problems due to which the airlines are not interested in operating international flights from Srinagar.
The department-related standing committee on Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made the recommendation after Centre submitted its action taken report on the panel’s earlier suggestion that that the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the J&K government should engage with the ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India to facilitate the operation of international flights from Sheikh ul-Alam Airport, Srinagar.
“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,” reads the report, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
In its earlier report, the panel had recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the J&K government should engage with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India to facilitate the operation of international flights from Sheikh ul-Alam Airport, Srinagar.
“The Committee also recommends that the infrastructure provided at Srinagar Airport must be improved for the same,” read the earlier report.
In its action taken report, the Centre submitted that the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is also engaged with ministry of Civil Aviation to facilitate introduction of regular international flights to and from this airport to various international designations including those in South East Asia, Middle East, and Europe.
“Presently, no airline has shown interest in regular international air service from Srinagar,” reads the ATR.
The Centre also submitted that the infrastructure for undertaking international flights from Srinagar Airport is in place.
“However, no regular international flights are operating from there and therefore, necessary immigration and custom staff is not posted on permanent basis. The officials of Immigration and Customs, work from Srinagar Airport only during Hajj flights,” it further reads—(KNO)
