Jammu, April 14
The government is contemplating night flights on the New Delhi-Srinagar-Jammu sector in a bid to give a boost to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Commercial flight operations are halted at both Jammu and Srinagar currently at 5pm.

The proposal was discussed at a high-level meeting held here yesterday between state and Central officials led by Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth. “We have requested the Government of India to allow night flights between Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of countries. The proposal is under active consideration of the Union Government,” J&K Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey said.

Sources said the Central team was in favour of putting in place several facilities before expanding flight operations, including night landing systems, before approving the proposal. “It has been felt that flights should be operated during night hours between J&K and other parts of country. The state government is hopeful that the Centre would give its nod to the proposal. Positive signals emanated during discussions with the Central team yesterday,” sources said.

Ashok Kumar, SP, Anti-Hijacking, at the Jammu Airport said it has facilities for landing of night flights. “Jammu airport has the facility for landing night flights. It is because of its proximity with the international border with Pakistan that night flights are not operated,” he said.

Srinagar Airport currently operates 22 flights while 18 operate from Jammu. A schedule of 32 flights a day was recently approved for Srinagar. A private carrier has applied to operate a 6.40 pm flight from Srinagar and the matter is under consideration, sources said. Sources said the matter of extension of air services to Kargil from Jammu and Srinagar and subsidising the cost of the tickets to passengers to and from Kargil was also discussed in the meeting.

Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the government had received feedback from “target areas” for direct and additional flights on the Srinagar-Delhi-Mumbai, Srinagar-Ahmedabad and other sectors to boost arrival of tourists to the Valley.

“We will urge the Centre to begin direct flights from cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad from where a large number of tourists visit the state. We will also ask airlines to start direct flights between Srinagar and other parts of the country on seasonal basis,” he said.