Ground Report

 By Tahima Qazmi 

Jammu, Jan 11: 



Jammu airport, one of the most sensitive and strategic airports of the country is up for a fundamental expansion and facelift in the coming months as the plans have been finalized and budgets procured for the exercise. 

Even as there has been demand for expanding the airport to make it possible for larger aircrafts to land here and also to make it a dry port for long, the things were set rolling by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself during his march 2011 visit to the state when he pronounced Rs 70 crore for the expansion and up gradation of Jammu airport which would include widening of runway from 6700 feet to 8000 feet. This shall expand the airport from 6500sq meter, to an area of 12,500 sqm. 

Jammu airport has been classified as critically sensitive airport of the country by the DGCA and there is a need to address the security concerns of the airport besides meeting the increased passenger holding capacity which is expected to rise from 200-700. The proposed modernization project shall include increase in landing surface and modernization of Airport Building. 

Informed sources divulge that army in possession of more than 100 acres of land adjacent to the existing airport which is confined into just 18.8 acres that restricts the landing of larger airports in Jammu. Sources also divulge that even though Army have been provided alternate land inside the Sunjwan military station, they have still not vacated the land adjacent to airport that has been occupied by them. 

The proposed expansion project of the airport which is likely to be completed in four phases will double the capacity of aircraft parking space. Furthermore, the road leading to the end of the run way will be diverted and 36 crores have been sanctioned for this strip. As a result seven aircrafts will get parking space on the strip. Additional space shall be procured by diverting the irrigation canal and transmission line passing over the strip, for which 40 cr have been released to the concerned departments. 

In the second phase, a new terminal will be constructed at Belicharana in an area of 20,000 sq feet. According to sources, 100 acres of land has been allocated for this terminal but is yet to be acquired. 

M.Suresh, Director Airport Authority Jammu said, "The work on expansion of Jammu airport is on and once completed, it shall be able to cater to increased flow of air passengers. Whereas the existing building of the airport will be also expanded, there will be development of basic strip on both sides of extended runway". "This will take another six months to get it fully expanded with the support of state government, "he added. 

"Presently our main priority is to expand the existing runway so that parking space will be widened for the aircrafts which is primary requirement at this time and to make it possible it is mandatory to shift army base to Sunjwan which will be done very soon. As far as money is concerned it will be distributed from planning department to the concerned departments which has already been processed," said Pawan Kotwal Divisional Commissioner.