New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, suggesting the opening of the strategic IAF airport at Awantipora in South Kashmir to civilian traffic in October.
The meetings come amid the scheduled closure of the Srinagar airport from October 1 to October 15.
Abdullah met the two Union ministers here separately and raised concerns over the planned closure of the Srinagar airport in October for runway repairs, officials said.
During the meetings, Abdullah highlighted that a major inflow of tourists from West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra occurs during this period. The season is fondly called ‘Golden Kashmir’ because the leaves of the iconic Chinar trees turn golden-yellow.
He suggested that if the closure of the Srinagar airport is absolutely necessary, the alternative airfield at Awantipora should be opened for civilian traffic during that fortnight.
The chief minister is in the national capital to attend the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog.
Officials said that the Centre will explore options to avoid a total closure of the airport in October.
In 2010, the Awantipora airbase, which, like the Srinagar airport, is under the control of the Indian Air Force, was successfully used for civilian flights during previous runway repairs in Srinagar.
12/06/2026 PTI/Kashmir Images
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