Decks cleared for expansion of Jammu Airport

After a long delay, decks are being cleared for expansion of the Jammu Airport by shifting the Army installation– the major bottleneck which has been hampering the ambitious project for years now.

“The shifting of Army assets and utilities from Satwari to alternate land in Sunjwan is in full swing and would be completed within a fixed time period, while the   rehabilitation of people being displaced from other areas and diversion of canals is also  on”  an official spokesperson quoting divisional Commissioner, Jammu  said here today .

The Divisional Commissioner, Dr. Pawan Kotwal  was chairing a high level meeting to discuss issues pertaining to expansion and modernization of Jammu Airport.

He said that after the shifting of Army was over, the existing chunk of land near Jammu Airport which was earlier housing army assets, utilities would be utilized optimally to convert Jammu Airport into international airport.

Reviewing the physical and financial status of the project, Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned agencies to maintain synergy and coordination  for early completion of the project. He said the project envisages creation of  modern infrastructure to handle air traffic and to provide enhanced services to the passengers.

Senior officers of Police, Army, Air Force, Airport Authority of India and civil administration attended the meeting.

Pertinently, the Jammu Air project missed many deadlines after the Army objected to shifting its base from Satwari to Sunjwan. Army had been demanding ownership rights over 138 kanals of land in Sunjwan in lieu of vacating 140 kanals of land at Satwari for the airport expansion.

However, the state government was not in favor of giving ownership right citing non-state subject issue.

Now, as per an understanding, the Army will vacate 140 kanals of land at Satwari and will shift its base to Sunjwan. However, the ownership rights of Satwari land will remain with the Army, while the ownership right of land at Sunjwan will lie with the state government.