Jammu Airport To Get Bigger, Better As PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone For Rs 865-Crore Terminal Building

In an exciting news for the picturesque Kashmir Valley, the Jammu Airport is all set to get a significant upgrade.

Taking a crucial step towards this transformation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport today (20 February).

Being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 865 crore, the new terminal will span an area of 40,000 sq m. This expansion will allow the airport to serve 4 million passengers every year, three times more than it can currently handle - the airport's current annual operating capacity is about 1.6 million passengers.

Jammu Airport, also known as Satwari Airport, has been operational since 1985 and is situated 14 km away from the India-Pakistan international boundary. While it belongs to the Indian Air Force, the AAI manages the civil enclave for passenger movement.

Over the past five years, passenger traffic at the airport has experienced a 50 per cent growth, and this trend is expected to continue. This increase follows the restoration of normalcy in the region after the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

As part of the plan, a state-of-the-art, centrally air-conditioned terminal building with two levels and a mezzanine will be constructed. It will feature modern facilities and amenities to accommodate peak-hour traffic of 2,000 passengers (1,000 departures and 1,000 arrivals).

The building will boast aesthetically pleasing and calming interior décor, reflecting the city's distinctive Dogra architectural style.

This enhancement will not only enhance air connectivity but also bolster tourism, trade, and accelerate the economic growth of the region.