In what can be termed a considerable feat, Jammu airport’s 8000ft long runway was made operational on Friday. IndiGo flight 6E-137 became the first aircraft to take off the new runway. Indian Air Force celebrated its opening by a water cannon salute, in the presence of Jammu airport director Sanjeev Kumar Garg, Air Commodore GS Bhullar, AOC 23rd Wing IAF, officials from Airports Authority of India, Military Engineering Service, Airlines, and Central Industrial Security Force.
“The operationalisation of the extended portion of the runway has been successfully done at the joint user airfield of the IAF and Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Jammu,” announced Sanjeev Kumar Garg, Jammu airport Director.
The old runway of Jammu airport was 6,700ft long, and the renewal made its length 8000ft. “When we had a 6,700ft-long runway, the flights were not operating to their full capacity load, and the pilots had been facing difficulty during landings and take-offs,” he added.
Besides an extension, the authorities also constructed 2,800 metres of boundary wall and rigid pavement perimeter road. A turn pad designed for Airbus 321 has also been built under this expansion project. Airports Authority of India undertook the construction work in collaboration with Indian Air Force and Military Engineering Service.
Jammu airport director Sanjeev Kumar Garg thanked the effective coordination between all stakeholders, especially AAI, MES, and IAF, for completing this project. He also extended his gratitude to the agencies involved in this project.
The work of the new terminal building at Jammu airport will commence soon
The construction of the new terminal building of Jammu airport at Belicharana will begin soon. The new terminal will be instrumental in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. A survey by India’s regulatory authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), found Jammu’s airport on the list of 11 critical airfields in India. The airport has river Tawi flowing on one side and a rivulet and densely populated localities on the other side. AAI may extend the strip by another 1,000 ft.
The Jammu airport, which has been open for services since 1985, belongs to the Indian Air Force. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) maintains it for passenger services.
