(a): whether the Government proposes to expand the Kargil Airport to enable operations of all major transport aircraft;
(b): if so, the details and the present status thereof; and
(c): the time by which the expansion work at the said airport is likely to be completed?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri G. M. Siddeshwara)
(a) (b) & (c): Yes, Madam. The Kargil Airport belongs to the State Government of J&K and was leased to Airports Authority of India (AAI). AAI has transferred the operational control and maintenance to Indian Air Force (IAF). Presently, the Runway dimension is 6000 ft X 100 ft (1829M X 30M) and the Terminal Building has the capacity to handle 100 peak hour passengers at a time. The airport is equipped with proper facilities for civil air operations. However, no airlines are operating from this airport as it is not commercially viable. IAF has been mandated to take up the development work at Kargil Airport including Runway extension by 3000 ft. Approval of the State Government has been sought for extension of operational control of the airport for further period of 20 years to enable IAF to take up the development work of the airport.