Air services to Kashmir Valley resume
Flights to and from Srinagar resumed on Friday after remaining suspended for three days as the international airport here was handed over to civil aviation authorities following completion of runway
resurfacing work. "The air traffic has resumed on Friday and flights are landing almost as per schedule," officials of the Airport Authority of India said. In view of the strict curfew being implemented here, authorities have directed security forces to treat the air tickets as curfew passes for passengers flying in and out of the Valley. To ensure hassle-free travel for the passengers, the authorities had asked them to report to Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) in the city and not to head to the airport directly. The Srinagar airport was
closed for resurfacing, repair and upgradation on September three and subsequently the air traffic was diverted to Awantipora airbase, 32km from here.
However, the government suspended the air operations for three days from the airbase
beginning on Tuesday following complaints that airlines were cancelling flights randomly without intimating the passengers. Airlines officials had cited the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley as the reason for flight cancellations.
The repair and upgradation of Srinagar International Airport were earlier slated to be taken up in May but rescheduled due to the summer tourist season, an official
spokesman said, adding accordingly, it was decided to take up the work only from
September three. He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had taken up the matter with
defence minister, Mr A.K. Antony and the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, for operationalising Awantipora airbase from September three so that the people did not face any kind of inconvenience during the holy month of Ramzan and the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
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