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Among the multiple development projects worth over INR 32,000 crores inaugurated in Jammu yesterday, the new terminal building at Jammu Airport was also given a green flag. To be spread over a 40,000 sqm area, the new terminal building will be equipped with modern facilities catering to about 2000 passengers during peak hours.
As mentioned in an official statement, the new terminal building will be environment friendly and will be built such that it showcases the local culture of the region. It will strengthen air connectivity, boost tourism and trade and accelerate economic growth of the region.
Underlining that development works are taking place simultaneously in the entire country, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the increased connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir. He mentioned the expansion work of Jammu Airport, connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari by rail, and the flagging off of trains running from Srinagar to Sangaldan and Sangaldan to Baramulla.
“The day is not far when people will be able to travel across the country by taking a train from Kashmir”, PM Modi affirmed. Notably, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation various rail projects in Jammu & Kashmir including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan (48 Km) and the newly electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan section (185.66 Km).
The Prime Minister also flagged off the first Electric Train in the valley and also train service between Sangaldan station & Baramulla station. Referring to modern trains like Vande Bharat the Prime Minister said Jammu Kashmir was selected among the initial routes of the trains. He said two Vande Bharat trains are running in Jammu and Kashmir and access to Mata Vaishno Devi has improved. Among the projects, the PM mentioned the second phase of the Srinagar Ring Road which will improve access to Manasbal Lake and Kheer Bhawani temple.
Similarly, the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri highway will benefit farmers and tourism. Delhi Amritsar Katra Expressway will make it easy to travel between Jammu and Delhi. During the programme, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of important road projects including two packages (44.22 KM) of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway connecting Jammu to Katra; Phase two for four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road; five packages for upgrading the 161 km long Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01; and the construction of Kulgam Bypass & Pulwama bypass on NH-444. The two packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, once completed will facilitate the visit of pilgrims to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, and will also boost economic development in the region; Phase two for four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road involves upgrading the existing Sumbal-Wayul NH-1.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the new terminal building has been constructed in two phases at an estimated cost of INR 486 crore. “After the operationalisation of the first phase of the terminal in a 28,729 sqm area, the old terminal building was demolished. The new terminal building in the second phase in an area of 14,047 sqm has been developed, taking the overall area of the terminal of the airport to 42,776 sqm.
This brownfield project of length 24.7 Km, will reduce the traffic congestion in and around Srinagar city. It will improve connectivity to popular tourist destinations like Manasbal Lake and Kheer Bhawani Temple, and also reduce travel time to Leh, Ladakh; The project for the upgradation of 161 km long Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01, is of strategic importance. It will also boost the economic development of Baramulla & Uri; Kulgam Bypass & Pulwama bypass on NH-444 connecting Qazigund – Kulgam – Shopian – Pulwama – Badgam – Srinagar will also boost road infrastructure in the region. “Today, there is a lot of enthusiasm in the whole world about the development of Jammu and Kashmir”, the Prime Minister said, recalling his recent visit to the gulf countries where positivity regarding investment in the Union Territory is on a high. PM Modi also touched upon the several G20 meetings organized in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the entire world is enchanted by its natural beauty. Notably, Jammu and Kashmir recorded more than 2 crore visitors last year while the number of pilgrims visiting Amarnath ji and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi has reached the highest in the last decade.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the number of tourists is only going to increase considering the fast-paced development of infrastructure. Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than INR 3150 crores for strengthening the civic infrastructure, education, health sector and provisioning of public facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.
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