Decks cleared for Leh airport expansion

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 5

The Indian Air force (IAF) today agreed to vacate the airbase at Leh, which would be used for expansion of the civilian airport by the J&K Government.

This was revealed during a meeting held by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon with the officials of the IAF, the Airport Authority of India and the civil administration here today.

Samoon was informed that the state government had identified alternative land for the existing IAF airbase in Leh, which would pave the way for expansion of the airport for civilian use. The officials further said the land was approved by the IAF authorities.

The district officials of Kargil, meanwhile, informed the Divisional Commissioner that in exchange for an alternative site, the Army had agreed to vacate a large tract of land presently under its control, which would be used for the expansion of the town.

The IAF officials, who attended the meeting, said the alternative site offered by the state government in Leh had been examined by the experts and they were ready to take over if the state finalised the deal.

The Divisional Commissioner was also informed that the modalities were being worked out to shift the existing airbase in Leh to the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Samoon said the paperwork to finalise the dealing should be taken up on priority so that land was transferred to the civil government by the end of February.

On January 28, The Tribune had highlighted that the expansion of the strategically-important Leh airport, located 10,683 feet above the sea level, had failed to clear administrative tangle as the IAF had refused to vacate 11.8 acre of land, which had been identified for the project.

The expansion project includes construction of the new terminal building to cater to peak-hour passenger rush and creation of new parking bays.

The Divisional Commissioner said the administration would transfer the airbase to the Airport Authority of India for development.

He said the transfer agreements should be taken up on priority to fully exploit the huge tourism potential of Leh and Kargil, which in turn would generate employment opportunities.

Samoon, meanwhile, directed the Airport Authority of India to ensure proper sanitation at the Srinagar airport so that it doesn’t become a breeding ground for dogs and birds, which would pose threat to the safety of air passengers, besides adding to local population.

He also directed the AAI to explore the modalities for starting night operations at the Srinagar airport. The IAF officials attending the meeting said they had already given in writing that they had no problem if the airport hosts flights during night.