Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to deploy special officers for immigration checks to ensure fool-proof security and passenger safety at Srinagar International Airport.
This follows the resumption of international traffic at the airport. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the first Srinagar-Sharjah flight on Saturday. International flights formally will resume from November 3.
An official document accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveals that Divisional Commissioner PK Pole has directed the airport administration to set up separate immigration and customs counters
“It has been decided that ADGP will provide adequate manpower for immigration checks. There is enough manpower available for the customs,” the document said.
The government has decided that barriers will be placed to preclude the possibility of intermixing of International and Domestic passengers at the Srinagar international airport.
“Adequate space for 180 arriving passengers in the international arrival hall and 53 counters are placed for registration of other arriving passengers,” the document said.
The document said the arrival segregation on Wednesday and Saturday will be needed from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and the departure segregation on Wednesday and Saturday will be needed from 3 pm to 7 pm.
Director Health Services Kashmir has been directed to set up separate cabins for COVID testing at the airport.
Officials said traffic has increased by 170%. Around 12,000 passengers arrive and depart from the airport daily.
The first international flight from the Srinagar airport to Dubai was started on February 14, 2009, by Air India Express. It was a once-a-week service. However, it was later discontinued due to low demand.
