Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra has sought direct Air India flights between Srinagar-Jeddah and Srinagar-Dubai.According to a statement issued to KNS, Karra in a communication dated 5th August 2014 to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok G R Pusapati has said that given the fact that a lot of people from Srinagar travel to Jeddah and Dubai every year for performing Umrah and in connection with business and jobs, there is a pressing need for operating direct flights on Srinagar-Jeddah and Srinagar-Dubai sectors.
“The present travel arrangement of visiting Jeddah and Dubai from Srinagar via Delhi/Mumbai is not only expensive but also arduous especially for the elderly persons performing Umrah,” Karra has said in his letter. Karra, who is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Srinagar International Airport, has in his communication said that the matter regarding operation of direct flights between Srinagar and Jeddah has also been taken up by the Director Srinagar Airport, K S Rao with the Joint Managing Director Air India Ltd. Karra said the government could then explore the possibility of starting direct flights from Srinagar airport to other international destinations like Kuwait, Qatar, Tehran, Malaysia, UK, Singapore etc. (KNS)