Srinagar: While the demand for extended flight operations at the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport is gaining momentum with each passing day, aviation experts suggest a ‘four-point plan’ for putting the facility in place. This, they said, includes quick completion of the runway repair work by the Indian Air Force, putting in place the runway lights as soon as possible, a mandatory staggering of flights to Srinagar and also doubling the manpower at the aerodrome.
The Srinagar International Airport is under the direct operational control of the Indian Air Force. The control of air traffic and that of the landing strip—including the facilities of fire-fighting and crash activities—is with the IAF while the terminal building, where the passengers check-in and depart, is taken care of by the Airports Authority of India. The AAI also controls the apron area (where an aircraft is parked) while the airspace control is with the IAF.
“There are many airports in India with similar arrangement. These include Jammu, Pathankote, Chandigarh, Baroda, Pune, Goa (Navy controlled) and Portblair (Navy controlled),” said a top aviation official, insisting not to be named.
He added: “There is a huge conflict on the issue. While the IAF says it has strategic requirements, the civilians feel uncomfortable with the arrangement. But the first and foremost thing that requires to be done is to make out that in the modern era of free economy, where market forces are allowed to decide almost everything, these kind of strategic restrictions hamper tourist inflow and make the whole airport congested.”
The official, well-versed with the issues facing the Srinagar Airport, believes that since the departure and arrival of flights has to take place in a particular span of time, it certainly causes discomfiture to passengers and is a major cause of congestion at the airport. The flight operation timing is presently restricted from morning till 3.30 PM.
16/06/11 Faheem Aslam/Greater Kashmir
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
0 comments:
Post a Comment