Srinagar Airport to be closed for 12 days from Sept 3

However, government today asked the airlines to ensure uniterrupted air conectivity to the Kashmir Valley using an alternative airport during the Srinagr airport closure period.

Normal civil flights will operate to Srinagar Airport upto September 2 and from September 3 onwards until resumption of flights from Srinagar airport, air connectivity to the valley would be provided through Avantipura airport on the outskirt of Srinagar, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement here.

The decision to operate flights services during the 12-day closure period was taken at a meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar with all the agencies concerned and the airlines held here.

All necessary arrangements are being made on an urgent basis to ensure flights to Avantipura airport during the closure of the Srinagar airport, it said. Soz meets PM, pleads for non-closure of Srinagar airport.

Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here seeking postponment of the repair work at Srinagar airport as its closure for 15 days would cause hardships to the people.

Soz told the PM that till an alternative arrangement was made, the airport should not be shut for repair work.