J-K Govt gets Centre's nod for Jammu Airport expansion

The Ministry of Defence has granted Jammu and Kashmir government permission for the expansion of Jammu airport here, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today.
"We have been granted working permission from Ministry of Defence (for the expansion of Jammu Airport)--soon the work will start on the runway of the Airport," Omar said, terming Jammu Airport as one of five most dangerous airports in the country.
He was speaking at a function here to inaugurate a four-lane road at Kunjwani in outskirts of Jammu city.
"I had sent a team of officers of State government to New Delhi recently and cleared all the hurdles in Airport Expansion project," the Chief Minister said.

"Jammu is one of the five dangerous airports in the country--we cannot risk the lives of the thousand of people travelling daily... We want to give a safe and secure Airport to the travellers," Omar said.
The Chief Minister said he has also discussed the importance of expansion of runways of Jammu Airport with the Union Government to make it capable of receiving bigger aircraft.

Omar said the Centre has recognised this importance and the project has been cleared for expansion and upgradation of runways.
He said these projects would not only help to rope in more tourists to Jammu city but also give fillip to the economic activity in the state.

Regarding the Gondola project on Bahu Fort-Mubarak Mandi axis in Jammu city, he said that the State Government has almost got clearance for the project from the Union Ministry of Environment.
Over the lake project, he said that people in Jammu will get the lake by March next year.
On power development, Omar said that self-reliance in power generation is imperative for economic welfare and holistic development in a State like Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the State government has also laid edifice to generate 9000 MWs within some 7-8 years so that it becomes self sufficient in power generation.

"This would not only help to provide 24x7 uncut power supply for domestic purpose but also for trade and industrial purposes".
The Chief Minister announced the launch of neurosurgery unit in Jammu Super Speciality Hospital to provide critical neurosurgery treatment to the patients there and relieve them from the burden of travelling outside the State for such treatment.