The upgraded passenger terminal will provide more facilities to passengers besides giving modern look to the airport. The 90-crore project was actually started in 2014 and has been completed in time for which the Minister for Civil Aviation expressed thanks to all those who were involved with it.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister hinted at the need of a new airport for Jammu and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation was categorical that this need has to be fulfilled now. The MoS in PMO went to the length of suggesting a strip of land along the national highway for the contemplated international airport. One big disadvantage of the present Jammu airport is that it is too close to Pakistan border and extraordinary care is to be taken by the pilots while taking off or landing at this airport. There is not much scope of its expansion owing to security reasons.
The MoS in PMO has raised two important issues which call for attention of the State as well as the Central Government. One is introducing air service to remote places like Dachhan and Marwa in Kishtwar region. What he precisely suggested is that there are areas like Dachhan and Marwa in Kishtwar and remotest parts in Doda and Ramban where health facilities are not reaching the people at their doorsteps due to which they 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 as well. This is very much possible if serious thought is given to the suggestion and also much needed one in the light of harsh winter and road blockade owing to heavy snowfall. Recently, the chopper service to Kishtwar has been suspended because the chopper does not find passengers to capacity owing to the cost of ticket which needy people are unable to pay. The chopper service and its related matters essentially the cost of ticket etc need to be discussed threadbare and resolved.
The second issue which needs immediate attention of the authorities and the civil society is about travel facilities for the students from Leh and Kargil. Hundreds of students from these two far flung and cut off areas of the State which remain snow bound for six months of the year are faced with travel difficulties. Owing to heavy snowfall and freezing temperature traffic on Srinagar-Leh road is suspended each year. Hundreds of students of this region who need to travel in and out of Ladakh and Kargil cannot move because of road blockade. Their studies are adversely affected. They miss crucial engagements like calls for interview or enjoying holidays back in home etc. The air fare is exorbitant for them because their economy does not allow the luxury. What we suggest is that a formula should be evolved so that the student community has the facility of availing subsidized air ticket whenever they are travelling in response to their academic needs. Providing them subsidized air tickets once or twice a year is a genuine demand.
Lastly, it has to be understood that with the passage of time more and more people in the State will become mobile because of the changing life style in the country. Our towns are expanding and developing and rural to urban migration process is going on with great speed. Therefore we should also begin to think of air connectivity of major district headquarters with the main city of Srinagar/Jammu. This means that comprehensive chopper service shall have to be introduced in the State sooner or later.
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