Despite Pak’s refusal to allow overflights, India determined to strengthen Srinagar-Sharjah air corridor
Despite Pakistan’s refusal to allow overflights, India is determined to strengthen the Srinagar-Sharjah air corridor, by increasing flights (already 4 a week and likely to go up to 6) and strengthening trade ties.
India is building a new cargo terminal in Srinagar for the export of goods to Sharjah and other parts of West Asia. It should be ready in a month. To ensure more international travel out of Srinagar and not just to Sharjah, a new terminal is under construction as is one in Jammu.
Despite the threat of violence and attacks on workers from other parts of India, air traffic out of Srinagar — always a sign of economic activity– is growing rapidly.
In September 2020, there were 1,093 flights into and out of Srinagar, carrying 140,077 passengers. It went up to 1,227 flights with 163,053 passengers in October. While this is already impressive, the corresponding figures for 2021 show a significant increase.
In September this year, there were 2,152 flights with 270,380 passengers and in October, 2,460 flights and 331,914 passengers. This includes international flights that Pakistan is desperate to hinder.
A similar rise is seen from Jammu airport. From 806 flights and 97,030 passengers in October 2020, the airport saw 1331 flights and 1,36,665 passengers last month– more sign of economic activity in the union territory.
Recent logistical improvements like the extension of the runway in Jammu and the subsequent removal of the 30 per cent load penalty may have played a small role. The reduction of value added tax (VAT) and the introduction of night flights for the first time since independence have also contributed to the surge.
