JAMMU, DEC 03: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat today to review the functioning of the Civil Aviation Department. The meeting was attended by Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Secretary Civil Aviation Aijaz Asad, officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and Directors of Jammu and Srinagar Airports.
Discussions covered a range of topics, including the department’s aircraft fleet, revival plans, helicopter procurement, pilot training, and recruitment strategies. The Chief Minister also reviewed financial progress and budgetary allocations under the Capex and Revex budgets.
A key focus of the meeting was the subsidized helicopter service, operational since April 2017 under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Currently connecting five approved routes—three in Jammu and two in Kashmir—the Chief Minister emphasized expanding the service to include point-to-point routes, particularly for remote areas. He stressed the importance of optimizing resource utilization and ensuring sufficient passenger loads on flights.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed his commitment to modernizing aviation infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that enhanced connectivity would significantly contribute to the region’s economic growth.
During the meeting, officials presented updates on projects under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN. The Director of Jammu Airport provided a detailed report on the New Civil Enclave Project, which has a total cost of ₹861.37 crore, with an approved allocation of ₹697.83 crore. As of November 30, 2024, physical progress on the project was 16%, while financial progress stood at 14%.
The project will feature a centrally air-conditioned terminal building with a peak-hour capacity of 2,000 passengers and an annual capacity of 4.5 million passengers. Additional infrastructure includes fire and water pump rooms, landscaping, water and sewage treatment plants, and parking for 250 vehicles.
The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite land acquisition processes, particularly the transfer of land currently occupied by the Animal Husbandry Department, to avoid delays in project completion. The meeting also addressed cost escalations affecting hangar and annex building projects, with the Chief Minister urging actionable measures to overcome these challenges.
The meeting concluded with a call for efficient project delivery and a renewed focus on improving civil aviation infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
