Government to invest in infrastructure expansion of three airports in J&K

The government is set to spend an estimated amount of Rs 10 billion in the span of the next three years for the expansion of three airports in the newly formed union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This investment to improve connectivity is seen in light of the government’s plans to bring the territory closer to the rest of the nation. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun working on extending the runway at Jammu airport and is now in the process of seeking more land from the state government for developing a new terminal. The body had previously expanded and made changes to the terminal at the airport.Currently, the airports at Leh and Srinagar are also undergoing modifications. Reportedly, expansion of the terminal at Srinagar and the building of a new terminal at Leh has been approved and are expected to finish by July 2022. These projects are set to cost approximately Rs 4.95 billion and Rs 4.8 billion, respectively. The Leh terminal will come with an annual capacity of 1.6 million per annum. Additionally, AAI has planned to spend around Rs 250 billion in the coming five years to advance airport projects in the country. Apart from expanding and boosting the infrastructure of airports, the body is simultaneously working on shortlisting around two dozen airports that could be privatised, to submit to the government.