Civil airport planned for Rajouri: J-K min Zulfkar Ali

Jammu and Kashmir Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today said the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has planned to construct a civil airport in the border district of Rajouri.
A delegation led by the minister called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament Secretariat in New Delhi to highlight demands pertaining to the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Demanding restoration of air service from the districts, he apprised the Prime Minister that air-connectivity at Rajouri and Poonch was vital from security point of view and eyeing the present security scenario.
The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the PM in this regard during the meeting.

The construction of the airport, to be spread in 1,150 Kanals (144 acres) of land at Rajouri, has not been started yet, he said.
Apart from restoration of air service from Rajouri, their demands included special package for victims of border shelling, starting construction of the Jammu Rajouri-Poonch railway line, four-laning of Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch Highway, and National Highway status to Mughal Road.

Besides they demanded special employment package for unemployed youth of the twin districts and harnessing lakes in Pir Panchal area for tourism.
The Prime Minister assured them the issues will be looked into, Ali said.
The memorandum states the prevailing situation along the LoC is adding to the miseries of the people of Poonch and Rajouri who are witnessing death and destruction every day.

There is a need to frame a comprehensive policy for rehabilitation of people residing along LoC and are affected by cross firing and shelling, the memorandum said.
It demanded permanent mechanism for safety of people and urged the Centre to provide special financial assistance to the state for constructing permanent in-house bunkers besides community bunkers.
Explaining hardships faced by people in these districts, the delegation demanded adequate compensation for loss of lives and property and railway connectivity for the development of the region.