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The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has defended the planned runway maintenance at Srinagar International Airport, stating that the work is essential to ensure aviation safety and maintain operational efficiency. The maintenance programme, proposed by the Indian Air Force, will involve periodic runway closures and a temporary complete shutdown later this year. The move has triggered concerns among tourism operators, trade bodies and businesses in Kashmir over its impact on travel and economic activity. However, authorities have maintained that the repairs are critical and cannot be delayed further due to safety and infrastructure requirements.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said that the proposed runway maintenance at Srinagar International Airport is necessary to ensure safe flight operations and support the airport's long-term infrastructure needs. The authority's clarification comes amid growing concerns from tourism stakeholders, businesses and trade bodies regarding the impact of the planned closures on air connectivity to Kashmir.
According to AAI, the maintenance work has been proposed by the Indian Air Force, which manages the airfield infrastructure at the airport. Officials stated that the runway requires periodic repairs and recarpeting to maintain safety standards and operational reliability. They added that such maintenance activities are a routine requirement at airports and are carried out to ensure the safe movement of aircraft.
Under the current plan, runway operations are expected to remain suspended every Monday and Tuesday from July to September to facilitate maintenance work. In addition, a complete closure of the runway has been proposed from October 1 to October 15 to allow for major repairs and related activities.
AAI officials indicated that postponing the maintenance programme could affect the runway's long-term performance and operational efficiency. The authority maintained that the work has been planned after technical assessments and is necessary to keep the airport infrastructure in good condition.
The proposed closures have raised concerns across Kashmir's tourism and hospitality sectors, which rely heavily on air connectivity. Industry representatives have pointed out that the restrictions could affect tourist arrivals, hotel bookings and related economic activity during a period that typically sees strong travel demand. Srinagar Airport serves as the primary gateway to the Kashmir Valley and handles a significant volume of domestic passenger traffic every year.
The issue has also drawn the attention of the Jammu and Kashmir administration. In recent days, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss possible alternatives during the maintenance period. He suggested allowing civilian flight operations from the Awantipora airbase to minimise disruption and maintain connectivity while the runway work is underway.
The planned maintenance follows earlier operational restrictions at Srinagar Airport. Flight schedules had already been adjusted for runway-related works, with operations restricted to specific hours during previous phases of infrastructure maintenance. These measures were introduced as part of efforts to upgrade and preserve critical airport facilities.
Srinagar Airport is among several joint civil-military airports in India where runway recarpeting and maintenance works are being undertaken. Similar projects have been planned at other Indian Air Force-operated airports to improve runway quality, enhance safety standards and support both civilian and military aviation requirements.
The airport has witnessed a steady increase in passenger traffic over the years, driven by rising tourism and improved connectivity. With passenger volumes growing, aviation authorities have emphasised the importance of maintaining runway infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted and safe operations in the long run.
Source PTI
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