Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: People ‘s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rafiabad Yawar Dilawar Mir has expressed concern over the skyrocketing air fares in the State and demanded to explore wet leasing arrangements and chartered flights during the peak tourists months.
“This way the fares of these flights could be capped so as to put market pressure on all airlines to hold their rates in an acceptable band”, he added.
In a statement issued, Yawar Mir criticized arbitrary hike in airfares by various airlines operating between Delhi-Jammu and Srinagar and has sought revision in the tax on ATF, which will facilitate the reduction of air tariff structure of various airlines and will promote the influx of tourists in the State.
He requested Union Tourism Minister and the Civil Aviation Ministry to explore re-starting operation of Srinagar-Dubai flights to facilitate business class of the State.
Mir has also regretted for inordinate delay in starting night landing of flights at the Srinagar International Airport despite Defence Ministry’s clearance for operation of civilian flights around three years back at the Srinagar International Airport till 10 pm daily. “Airport authorities and the Defence Ministry must work together to provide necessary infrastructure at Srinagar Airport for the purpose”, Yawar urged.
He added that the State especially the tourism sector is badly bearing the brunt of arbitrary hike in airfares as air travel to J&K has become costlier which consequently affects tourists’ influx and also causes hardships for the local flyers.
“It has been witnessed that arbitrary increase in airfare has become a phenomenon now in the wake of bad weather in Kashmir and the consequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which is the Valley’s only surface link with rest of the world and remains often closed in winter months due to landslides caused by incessant rains or snowfall in Kashmir”, Yawar added.
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