Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha today said three new airports would come up in Jammu and Kashmir soon to increase air traffic.
“We are looking at the probability of setting up one airport each in north and south Kashmir,” Sinha said at the ‘Ideas Summit’ organised by the Foundation for Resource Development and Education. The event was attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs and established businesses in the hospitality sector of the Valley.
He said the night-landing facility at Srinagar International Airport would also start soon to ensure hassle-free operation of international flights. “We are going to start direct international flights from the Srinagar airport to Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. Also, direct flights will operate between Srinagar and Ahmadabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata,” he said.
Sinha said the government had also decided to increase the cargo facility at the Srinagar airport for storing fresh flowers and fruits.
At the event, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said: “Three years as the FM had made me cynical. But today I got hope. For the first time, I am feeling that there is life beyond government and government jobs. Forums like this are nothing short of inspiration.”
The FM said the major concern for the state was lack of private investment. “Private investment needs to be spurred. What I see for J&K is for it to be a knowledge economy. Every single art in Kashmir is a creative art and the banking sector must find ways of funding. By leveraging outpouring of creativity, we will be leveraging the state’s future economy,” he added.
Centre gives nod for three new airports in J&K
