The J&K government’s assurance to rename the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport after the revered saint Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) is yet to see the light of the day, with a Member Parliament from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party blaming the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for stonewalling the move for unknown reasons.
The state government had on the floor of the Legislative Assembly this year announced that it would consider rechristening the Srinagar airport. But, according to sources, the government hasn’t moved beyond the announcement.
Talking to us, Member Parliament, Tariq Hamid Karra, who is a senior PDP leader, said the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has stonewalled the move.
“I personally raised this issue in the Parliament and even met the Union Civil Aviation Minister last year. But there is no response from them and the issue is lingering,” he said.
Karra is also chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee.
“I fail to understand why the central government is not allowing rechristening of the airport. It’s a simple procedure,” he told .
The rechristening of the Airport is a long-pending demand of the stakeholders, particularly the tourism players. The central government has however shown cold response to the demand.
Sources said the Indian Air Force—under whose control the Srinagar Airport falls—is also not in favor of the rechristening demand.
Former President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Ashiq said the state government has failed to convince the Centre to rename the Srinagar airport. “It shows the helplessness of this government whose legislators assured renaming of the airport on the floor of the House,” he said.
On October 8 this year, J&K’s Agriculture Minister GhulamNabi Lone said that Srinagar Airport should be named after revered saint Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani and urged the Legislative Council (LC) to adopt the resolution for same.
President, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Muhammad Ibrahim Siah said the government should take up the matter with the government and get it done.
