Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday welcomed the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) decision to withdraw the proposed weekly closure of the Srinagar International Airport’s runway for maintenance.
KCCI president, Javid Ahmad Tenga, in a statement, called the decision a timely and pragmatic intervention that has averted serious economic and social repercussions for Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that KCCI had taken up the matter with the governments of India and Jammu and Kashmir after concerns from stakeholders across tourism, trade, horticulture, healthcare and business sectors.
“The KCCI warmly welcomes the decision of the Srinagar International Airport authorities to withdraw the proposed weekly runway closure and ensure uninterrupted flight operations throughout the year,” Tenga said.
He said the proposed suspension of flight operations for two days every week had created widespread apprehension across Kashmir.
“At the peak of the tourist season, such a closure would have severely affected tourist arrivals, hotel bookings, travel agencies, transport operators, restaurants, handicrafts, retail businesses and thousands of families whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on tourism,” Tenga said.
The KCCI president said the proposed closure would also have caused immense hardship to patients travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir for specialised medical treatment, students, employees, business travellers and families with urgent travel requirements.
It would have disrupted business engagements, delayed movement of perishable goods, and adversely affected the confidence of investors and visitors alike, he added.
The chamber said it expresses gratitude to the Union government, J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, and the Srinagar International Airport authorities for their prompt and positive response in addressing the concerns raised by stakeholders, and for ensuring that uninterrupted air connectivity to the Valley is maintained.
