Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raised concerns over the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16, 2026, scheduled under Phase III of the runway resurfacing project, during separate meetings with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi.
An official spokesperson said the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of uninterrupted air connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during the peak autumn tourism season when the Valley attracts a large number of visitors from across the country.
While acknowledging that the resurfacing work is essential for operational safety and respecting the assessment of the Indian Air Force, Omar expressed concern over the timing of the final phase, which coincides with one of the busiest periods for the tourism sector.
Officials said the Chief Minister informed the Union Ministers that air services to the Valley had already been affected since April due to earlier phases of the resurfacing programme. A complete suspension of flights in the first half of October, he said, would adversely impact tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts and other sectors that support thousands of livelihoods.
Highlighting the wider economic implications, Omar said the closure could lead to travel disruptions and cancellations, causing inconvenience to residents and visitors while affecting business activity during a crucial tourism season.
During his meeting with the Defence Minister, he requested that the Indian Air Force explore the possibility of shortening or phasing the final stage of the project without compromising safety or operational requirements.
He also proposed that if a complete closure becomes unavoidable, limited civil flight operations may be allowed from the Awantipora Air Base to ensure essential connectivity.
Recalling his earlier tenure as Chief Minister, Omar noted that civil flights had successfully operated from Awantipora during runway resurfacing works in September 2010 under a coordinated arrangement involving the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.
“We are working on possible alternatives to minimise disruption and maintain a basic flight schedule, as was done during similar airport closures in 1998 and 2010,” he said.
During his meeting with the Civil Aviation Minister, Omar sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Defence Ministry on reviewing the timing of Phase III, including the possibility of shortening, phasing or shifting the closure to a leaner travel period without compromising safety.
The Chief Minister stressed that any alternative arrangement would require extensive inter-agency coordination and advance planning, and therefore needed to be initiated well before the scheduled closure period.
