On the directions of Governor, Mr N N Vohra, a high-level meeting was convened here this evening to review the preparedness for extended flight operations at the Srinagar International Airport.The meeting was chaired by Financial Commissioner Planning & Development and Civil Aviation, Mr B B Vyas. Additional Director General Security, Mr V K Singh, Commissioner Civil Aviation, Captain S Katoch, IG CRPF, Mr Nalin Prabhat, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Force Station Jammu, Air Commodore Ashutosh Lal, representatives of Director General Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India and Private Airlines were present at the meeting. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Mr Asghar Hassan Samoon and IGP Kashmir, Javaid Mujtaba Geelani and Director Srinagar Airport, Mr R K Shinde joined the meeting through video-conferencing.
The meeting also discussed extension of watch hours at Jammu Airport to facilitate extending flight operations between Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi and other sectors.The meeting held threadbare discussions on building resources and infrastructure and preparedness of the airlines for extension of flight operations at Srinagar Airport. The issues of security, lighting and capacity building in and around the airports also came up for discussion.The meeting was informed that while the airlines already operating on Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi sector have shown eagerness to start night flights, some new airlines are also intending to commence operations from Srinagar and Jammu for which extension of watch hours from dawn to dusk has become imperative.It was decided in the meeting that the issues flagged by various stakeholders would be taken up with the concerned quarters so that necessary measures are put in place for extended flight operations.