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| Decades on, Jammu Airport awaits expansion | | `Short runway can cause accidents' | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 9: Notwithstanding the government claims of promoting Jammu as a preferred tourist destination, successive regimes have failed to even provide "decent" air connectivity to the winter capital. Decades on, the only airport here awaits long-pending expansion.
The airport runway is smaller than the requisite length -by around 2000 feet-making the landing and takeoff difficult -all the times. Governor NN Vohra has already conveyed to the central government his apprehensions of "avoidable accidents" in the prevalent circumstances.
Situated 14-kilometers from the international border between India and Pakistan, the Jammu Airport also known as the Satwari Airport offers no more than "primitive services" to the fliers.
Against the need of 8000 feet stretch, the runway built in asphalt is only 6,700 feet long. This deficit creates problems for the flight take off and landing when the pilot has to put in "extra efforts to control the aircraft".
Though this airport caters to around nine lakh passengers annually, successive regimes have failed to upgrade it in line with the needs of the times.
Observers said the airport neglect affects tourism in the winter capital, which is famous as City of Temples. Jammu dominates pilgrimage tourism in the state. The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi alone attracts over one crore pilgrims annually from far and wide of the country and beyond. But the airport is unable to meet the regional needs.
A tourism player said delay in airport upgradation has been affecting the business prospects in entire Jammu region. "Airport is to be first impression for visitors but when you find the facility substandard, it is dejecting," complained the tourism player.
Delay in handover of adjoining Army land has been a main hindrance in the expansion. Earlier this year a ray of hope emerged during the President's rule in the state. Reports reveal that on February 5, Governor NN Vohra sought intervention of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for vacation of land by the Army at Jammu airport.
"The Governor NN Vohra addressed the defence minister to seek his urgent intervention to ensure that there is no further delay in handing over the remaining defence land at Satwari airport to the state government/airport authority of India (AAI) for the extension of Jammu airport," a Raj Bhavan spokesman had said.
The spokesperson recalled that "Army is required to hand over 15 acres of defence land at Satwari to the state government for its eventual transfer to the Airports Authority of India to facilitate the long pending extension of the existing runway at Jammu Airport from 6,700 feet to 8,000 feet."
The spokesman said the state government has already handed over equivalent area of forest land at Sunjwan (Jammu) to the Army in lieu of the defence land at Satwari.
In his letter to the defence minister, the Governor mentioned that any delay in the completion of the runway expansion may result in "avoidable accidents".
Even though within a month of the Governor having expressed his concern, the PDP-led coalition came to power, not much has been done on this issue of critical importance. "In keeping with the regional aspirations, the government should take upgradation of Jammu airport on priority," said a political observer asking not to be identified.
When contacted Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pawan Kotwal said he is aware of the problem. Talking to Early Times, Kotwal said "To facilitate the runway expansion, adjacent road and a canal are being diverted." He confirmed that alternate land has been allotted to the Army.
The Divisional Commissioner minced no words to endorse the fact that the present length of the runway could prove troublesome. "Big planes have big momentum… Presently this is a problem," he said. |
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