Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for its prompt and positive response to the concerns raised over the proposed runway closure at Srinagar Airport, stating that the decision to suspend the closure would ensure uninterrupted air connectivity to Jammu & Kashmir and provide much-needed relief to passengers and the tourism sector.
The Chief Minister had personally taken up the matter with the Government of India to safeguard the interests of passengers, the tourism industry, trade, and the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who would have been adversely affected by the proposed closure.
Expressing his appreciation, the Chief Minister said, “Grateful to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Ji for acceding to our request and suspending the airport closure order. This closure had created a lot of difficulties for regular travellers and forced tour groups and tourists to cancel their planned visits.”
He said the decision to suspend the proposed runway closure would ensure uninterrupted air connectivity to the region, preventing disruption to travel, tourism, and economic activity.
The Chief Minister reiterated that maintaining seamless air connectivity is vital for Jammu & Kashmir’s economy, particularly during the peak tourist season, and thanked the Government of India for responding promptly to the concerns raised by Jammu and Kashmir government.