Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 17: The upgraded passenger terminal of Jammu Airport was here today inaugurated by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, P Ashok Gajapati Raju along with Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.
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With the commissioning of Rs. 90 crore upgraded airport terminal project, the passengers at the airport would get enhanced passenger handling per hour and more checks-in and use of modern technology for heat and water conservation.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mehbooba expressed hope that with improved facilities, Jammu Airport would attract more and more arrivals. She said her Government has been working hard to improve facilities at Jammu Airport so that these become in tune with modern day aviation standards.
Mehbooba said Jammu has much to offer to the visitors in terms of heritage and history like Mubarak Mandi, forts, temples etc. and Jammu Airport plays an important role in getting a niche crowd to the place. She said given the increased traffic and connectivity time has come to think of developing a full-fledged airport at a separate place. She said destination for which connectivity and facilities are of crucial importance.
In his address, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, P. Ashok Gajapati Raju expressed the resolve of Central Government to improving facilities at the airports. He said there is a thrust on the part of his Ministry to increase connectivity within the country, particularly cargo, so that the emerging economic opportunities are optimally exploited.
The Union Minister said improved connectivity means more people travelling, thereby increasing tourist activities which automatically lead to more economic activities. He expressed the hope that with more expansion of the runway at the Jammu Airport, landing of Boeing 707 and Airbus 320 would be facilitated.
Terming it a historical day for Jammu, Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh complimented both Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Gajapati Raju and his Ministry for taking keen interest in upgradation of the terminal of Jammu Airport.
He said earlier it was decided to halt the work on this project upto 2019 but he took up the initiative with Civil Aviation Ministry asking them that by that time the tenure of present Lok Sabha will be over and being the public representatives from the State they can’t make any claim that they had done any thing in this regard. The Ministry was kind enough to concede the demand and issued orders for starting the work on the upgradation of airport, he added.
Strongly advocating for heli-health service to the people living in remotest areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said “an idea can be developed and I am of the opinion that Out Patient Department (OPD) can be run through air service in the remote areas,”.
He further said, “there are areas like Dachhan and Marwa in Kishtwar and remotest parts in Doda and Ramban where health facilities are not reaching at their doorsteps due to which people remain deprived of the facilities.” The heli-health services have been started by him in North Eastern States and on the same pattern we can start these services here, he added.
He suggested OPD service through air service to reach people suffering from diseases.
Dr Singh also said that when roads closed during harsh winter season, subsidised fare should be charged from the students and other passengers from Ladakh region by the companies running flights.
The Union MoS further said, “Jammu Airport also have day landing provision and the matter of night flights is taken up with Ministry of Defence and we hope that it will soon be sorted out.”
He, however, said that a chunk of land can be identified on Jammu-Kathua Highway to construct new airport which can become an international airport later and also advised to convert Udhampur Airport on Civil airport pattern.
Besides he stressed on converting the air strip at Kishtwar and that can also be used as civil airport. Dr Jitendra Singh maintained that under Modi Government there is no dearth of funds for development but we have to ensure that the funds are used properly.
He expressed the hope of starting more air flights from Jammu Airport so that the State can touch heights in development.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha in his address said though upgradation of Jammu terminal was very difficult “as we have to keep many factors like running of flights, low budget etc into consideration.”
He said for its timely completion the people of Jammu and Civil Aviation Ministry only don’t deserve the compliments but it was with the divine blessing of Mata Vaishno Devi that project got completed well in time.
Sinha said that the country is at present under going through a phase of transformation and the basic mantra of the same is Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the same is not enough as the need of hour is development beyond that as per increasing needs of the people and now the Government is concentrating on that, he added.
He said earlier there were 11 flights in Jammu and now it has increased to 21 so the terminal was expanded. But this is not enough and demand has come for a new airport in Jammu. He expressed the hope that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti would provide the land to Aviation Ministry for construction of new Airport in Jammu.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh; Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta; MPs, Jugal Kishore and Shamsher Singh Manhas also addressed the gathering.
Earlier, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra outlined the brief features of the upgraded terminal building.
Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi; several legislators; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, M K Bhandari; other senior officers of Divisional administration; members of tourist trade and business fraternities and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
The green features incorporated in the passenger terminal building include rain water harvesting, re use of treated water for horticulture, low heat gain glazing, LED lighting. The terminal would have a peak hour handling capacity of 720 passengers with 21 check in counters, seven X-ray machines, six frisking booths, three escalators, two elevators. The three passenger boarding bridges. are expected to be commissioned by March next year.
The Rs 90 crore Jammu Airport Terminal building was constructed by M/s Kapahi Construction Co. The project was sanctioned in 2013 but work was started in 2014.
For safety and security of passengers, Terminal Building is equipped with Fire Fighting and Fire Alarm System, CCTV and Baggage Scanners etc. There is a provision for installation of three Passenger Boarding Bridges with Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (AVDGS) for the Terminal which would increase operational efficiency besides convenience to passengers.
The upgraded passenger Terminal Building of Jammu Airport is equipped with double insulated roofing system, rainwater harvesting, 200 KLD sewage treatment plant (soil-based technology), reuse of treated water for horticulture and air conditioning purposes, use of fly ash bricks, low heat gain glazing, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints, LED lighting, energy efficient chillers, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drive) for high Capacity Motors.
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