Srinagar, Mar 4: Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) said that the Srinagar international airport needs a facelift as the airport is not in a good state.
The CCIK in a statement said Kashmir being the major tourist destination, its Srinagar airport should be exceedingly appealing, lovely, and outstanding as the visitors should feel welcomed upon arrival and enjoy a paradise-like ambience due to the airport’s lush greenery and natural appearance. The airport currently appears to be nothing more than a concrete building that doesn’t fit in with Kashmir’s surroundings.
The airport should symbolize Kashmir which is heaven on earth and should be maintained and beautified. Several other amenities, such as few baggage checkpoints and decent seating areas throughout, are lacking at the airport. The outer look of the airport especially garden and roads are not well maintained to give it a paradise-like look full of natural greenery.
The CCIK said there is a huge number of travellers in cues as the airlines have a limited staff and the travellers especially elderly people, women and senior citizens have to wait for a long time to get their boarding passes. CCIK requests authorities to direct the airlines to have more counters and sufficient staff so that the common people do not suffer. CCIK said it seems that airlines’ staff is much concerned about excess baggage for minting money from people but lack facilities at their counters. The airfare is touching the sky but the ground facilities are lacking. CCIK requests LG Manoj Sinha, Civil Aviation Ministry and Director of Airport Authority to look into the matter for making Srinagar airport one of the best airports in the country as Kashmir is the crown of tourism and the Srinagar airport should be brought up to international standard.