Just read this news about Srinagar International Airport closing down and honestly,the timing is just terrible. For 15 whole days right during peak tourist season.
Officials are saying airport will be shut from October 1 for some essential runway maintenance and repair work . But this is exactly when Durga Puja holidays happen,which is a huge time for tourism,especially from West Bengal.
And this is a big deal ah. airport handles something like 4,000 passengers every day. So many people who want to visit beautiful Valley depend on flights . This is going to hit the local tourism sector very hard .
Apparently,this is not sudden decision. A phased maintenance schedule will start in July,where flight operations will be suspended every Monday and Tuesday to prepare for the bigger shutdown . But a total closure is a different story altogether.
And honestly,this is where things get really worrying for local businesses .
The full closure is from October 1 to October 15 and travel operators are obviously scared . They are expecting widespread cancellations and huge revenue losses during what should be their best time of year.
Few things standing out clearly in this situation:
- Tourism at risk because timing of closure during Durga Puja could lead to massive cancellations.
- Operational changes are already there,with current flights limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to other engineering work.
- Stakeholder concerns are rising,with local businesses asking authorities to maybe reconsider timing.
And tbh,it's not like operations were fully normal before this. Since April 6 only,flights have been restricted because of Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Indian Air Force . So operational window was already smaller.
Most tourists prefer flying directly to Srinagar. Of course there are trains to Jammu but many people choose the convenience of air travel,especially for short holidays .
So this isn't just about an airport runway . This is about entire local economy. The hotels,the transport guys,the shops… everyone is connected to tourism .
I understand that runway repairs are crucial for safety and cannot be ignored . But to do it during biggest festival season for tourists… it feels like a massive economic blow for so many people. Just wondering if there was any other way to plan this…
