JAMMU, DECEMBER 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat to review the functioning of the Civil Aviation Department.
Key discussions focused on several crucial areas, including the department’s aircraft fleet, revival plans, procurement of helicopters, pilot training, and recruitment strategies. The Chief Minister also reviewed budgetary allocations and financial progress under both the Capex and Revex budgets for the department.
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the subsidized helicopter service operated under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has been in place since April 2017. Currently, the service connects five approved routes—three in the Jammu region and two in Kashmir. The Chief Minister directed officials to explore the expansion of this service to include additional point-to-point routes, particularly to remote and inaccessible areas, while ensuring maximum utilization of flights and maintaining sufficient load on each.
Omar Abdullah reiterated his commitment to modernizing Jammu and Kashmir’s civil aviation infrastructure, emphasizing that improving connectivity will not only enhance travel but also play a key role in driving the region’s economic growth.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of projects under the RCS-UDAN scheme, aimed at improving regional connectivity. Presentations from the Directors of Jammu and Srinagar Airports provided updates on ongoing and proposed expansion plans for these critical facilities.
The Director of Jammu Airport highlighted the ongoing New Civil Enclave Project, which is estimated at a total cost of Rs 861.37 crore, with an approved cost of Rs 697.83 crore. As of November 2024, the project had achieved 16% physical progress and 14% financial progress. Once completed, the new terminal will have a peak-hour passenger capacity of 2,000, with an annual capacity of 4.5 million passengers. The project will also feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including fire and water pump rooms, water and sewage treatment plants, landscaping, and parking facilities for 250 vehicles.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of expediting land acquisition processes to ensure the timely completion of the project. He specifically called for the vacating and transfer of land currently occupied by the Animal Husbandry Department, which is critical to progressing the project.
The meeting also addressed challenges such as cost escalations affecting the hangar and annexe building projects. The Chief Minister encouraged the team to propose actionable solutions to mitigate these challenges and ensure efficient project delivery.