Udhampur airport project to be implemented in 2 phases: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday announced that the Udhampur airport project in Jammu and Kashmir will be implemented in two phases.

The minister issued the statement from New Delhi following a series of meetings held over the past two days with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Civil Aviation Secretary Samir K Sinha, and senior officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Earlier, Singh had also taken up the matter with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to whom he had officially written. A response from the CM was subsequently received. Singh said he has also engaged with the relevant Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities, whose cooperation is essential to the project.

“Efforts to commence civil flight operations from the Udhampur Air Force Station have now taken a significant step forward, with the AAI completing a site feasibility assessment and initiating formal procedures for the development of a new Aviation Enclave,” Singh said in an official statement.

He noted that this marks the second major civil aviation initiative in the region, following the inclusion of Kishtwar airport under the UDAN scheme, which aims to improve air connectivity in remote and hilly areas.

The Udhampur proposal was initially triggered by a reference from Singh to the AAI. In response, a technical team comprising officials from various AAI directorates visited the Udhampur Air Force Station on March 28 and 29, 2025. The visit included a joint review with the IAF, an evaluation of existing infrastructure, and consultations with the district administration and defence authorities.

As per the phased development plan, Phase 1 will involve initiating civil flight operations within the existing premises of the Air Force Station. The IAF has, in principle, agreed to allocate 2,200 square metres of land for the construction of a terminal building. This terminal will be capable of handling up to 150 passengers and will accommodate ATR-72 or Q400 type aircraft. This arrangement is considered an interim measure to expedite the commencement of flight operations.

Phase 2 envisions the creation of a dedicated Civil Enclave outside the Air Force Station premises. A land parcel of approximately 27.6 acres has been identified by the district administration for this purpose. The proposed enclave will support larger aircraft such as the Airbus A321 and will feature a new terminal building, apron, taxiway and associated civil aviation infrastructure.

Following the site visit, Singh formally approached Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek administrative support and land transfer for the proposed Civil Enclave. The AAI has also submitted a request to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging its intervention to secure the identified land parcel free of cost and free from encumbrances, in accordance with the provisions of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016.