Labourers return to work; 35 percent job completed
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, July 27: Overcoming the initial slowdowns because of different reasons, work on the Jammu Airport expansion project is now proceeding at a satisfactory pace with completion of around 35 percent job till date.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that so far executed tasks include completion of basement, 65 percent work of elevated road for departure complex and 18 percent work on Apron with 100 percent labeling for the next phase.
As work on raising boundary wall around the new Airport complex has already been completed and there is no pending issue of land transfer while the pace of ongoing works is satisfactory, completion of the project is likely to meet its deadline, sources added.
Pertinent to mention that June 2026 is the deadline for completion of Rs 9000 crore project of new state of art facilities loaded Jammu Airport with almost three times enhanced capacity from the existing one, which will be commissioned by December 2026.
Earlier, there were apprehension that deadline for the completion of Jammu Airport expansion project might jump from 2026 to 2027 as migration of engaged labourers to their native states during Operation Sindoor in the month of May this year kept the work stalled for almost two months while non-availability of required sand and soil for filling up the Apron area had also slowed down the progress last year.
Sources said that maximum labourers have returned to work and the remaining ones are also likely to join them within days giving full pace to the ongoing work.
When contacted, Director Jammu Airport, B M Koul said that pace of ongoing work was satisfactory and completion of the project is likely to meet its deadline.
Besides building a strong, sustainable and future-ready aviation infrastructure to cater to the needs in the next 10-15 years, the project includes expansion of the Jammu Airport from 14,500 square meters area to 40,000 square meters towards Belicharana with entry and exit points towards fourth Tawi Bridge in Bhagwati Nagar.
The capacity of modernized airport will be almost three times of the existing one to handle a rush of passengers in the near future and the new building of the terminal will come up under five star rating. The building will have 36 check-in counters, six aerobridges, aprons, 16 self check-in kiosks, 11 security check lanes and an apron for parking 13 code C-aircraft.
At present, seven aircrafts can be parked at a time but with expansion of the airport in the first phase, 13 aircrafts may be parked in one go and this facility will be increased in the second phase. Currently, 30 to 35 flights are operating on daily basis at Jammu airport and with the new terminals and added aircrafts, the operation will be enhanced.
According to the sources, once the new Airport building becomes operational, the existing one will be used for cargo etc as it will not be merged with the new one.
As per the design of the new Airport building, it will look like a temple shaped structure. With an enhanced capacity, the new state of the art Airport building will cater the rush of visitors and also boost the economy of J&K as cargo carrier aircraft will also operate from here to facilitate the import and export of goods.
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