The good news that will cheer up everybody is that part of the expansion and modernization wok of Jammu Airport will be nearing completion by the end of December this year. The issue of expansion and modernization of Jammu airport has gone through a tortuous journey. The additional land required for takeoff and landing of big aircrafts was actually under the control of the army and part of it was private land on which people had constructed their houses in the village Belicharana. The Army needed to make the process of vacating the land subject to an alternate location which took time and was finally resolved after years of interaction among various stakeholders.
Officials of Airports Authority of India explained that it was very difficult to proceed with the expansion and modernization work at Jammu Airport without shutting down the air flight and there are about 40 incoming and outgoing daily flights from this airport. We appreciate the efficiency and sense of duty of the workers of Airport Authority of India who have accepted the challenge and come up to it. Kudos to their dedication and courage.
There is only one small snag left in the entire project. About 27 kanals of land in Belicharana identified for inclusion in the expanded area of the airport at Jammu have not yet been vacated despite the fact that the AAI has deposited the estimated cost of the land comprising 27 kanals to little more than 5 crore rupees with the revenue department of the State. The State Government is looking for resettlement of the displaced families and once that is resolved the remaining 27 kanals will be handed over to the Airport Authorities.
Jammu airport is a sensitive airport and from security point of view it has to be one of the highly guarded and sensitized airports of the country. Once the entire task of expansion and modernization is completed, Jammu airport will enjoy the prestige of being one of the finest airports in the country. It will add to the pride of the State.