By Web Master, "Srinagar airport is with out a name. Authority’s undecided over the issue." - Kashmir Watch - Islamabad, PakistanFriday, January 23, 2009
Srinagar: As the Srinagar Airport is all set to go international next month , the civil aviation authorities are still figuring out the suitable name for the newly build airport.
In 1996, National Conference government had proposed the name of Sheikh ul Alam, the famous Sufi saint of Kashmir for the new international airport. However, the officials of Airports Authority of India have said that they have not received any proposal or communique from the government of India, which is the only authority to name the airport.
International flights will take off from the new airport in Srinagar from February 14, but the state government is undecided about its naming. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the civil aviation minister Prafful Patel are likely to inaugurate the new airport scheduled next month.
Director, AAOI, Kashmir, Rakesh Kalra told PBI that International flights can operate from the Srinagar airport from February 14. However, he said that no proposal or communique has been received from the government regarding the naming of the newly build airport. Kalra also feigned ignorance about the hoarding displayed in the airport premises, naming the airport after the Sufi Saint Sheikh-ul-Alam.
Interestingly, the previous PDP-congress coalition government was also divided over the naming of the airport. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had advocated naming the airport after the Sufi saint, but the senior Congress leader and water resources minister, Saif-ud-din Soz had favored the name of former Chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for the naming of the airport.
However, days later Soz back tracked from his statement due to the mounting public pressure.
When contacted, Minister for rural development in National Conference led coalition government; Ali Mohammad Sagar said that he is not aware of the name proposed for the airport.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Masood Samoon also pleaded ignorance about the issue, when he was contacted by PBI.
Deputy Commissinoer, Budgam, Mohammad Rafi told PBI that last year the name of Sufi saint Sheikh-ul-Alam was proposed. However, he said that he was not aware of the latest development in this regard.
Meanwhile, Union civil aviation Shri Praful Patel said that all facilities at Srinagar Airport will be provided before the inaugural ceremony on February 14th.
He said he would sort out the matter regarding provision of ILS, Instrument landing System facility with the Union Minister of Defence very shortly and hoped that the facility would be provided early and announcement to this effect would be made on 14th of February 2009, when Airport at Srinagar will be officially inaugurated.
[Picture fromhttp://sufinews.blogspot.com/search?q=airport].
Srinagar: As the Srinagar Airport is all set to go international next month , the civil aviation authorities are still figuring out the suitable name for the newly build airport.
In 1996, National Conference government had proposed the name of Sheikh ul Alam, the famous Sufi saint of Kashmir for the new international airport. However, the officials of Airports Authority of India have said that they have not received any proposal or communique from the government of India, which is the only authority to name the airport.
International flights will take off from the new airport in Srinagar from February 14, but the state government is undecided about its naming. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the civil aviation minister Prafful Patel are likely to inaugurate the new airport scheduled next month.
Director, AAOI, Kashmir, Rakesh Kalra told PBI that International flights can operate from the Srinagar airport from February 14. However, he said that no proposal or communique has been received from the government regarding the naming of the newly build airport. Kalra also feigned ignorance about the hoarding displayed in the airport premises, naming the airport after the Sufi Saint Sheikh-ul-Alam.
Interestingly, the previous PDP-congress coalition government was also divided over the naming of the airport. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had advocated naming the airport after the Sufi saint, but the senior Congress leader and water resources minister, Saif-ud-din Soz had favored the name of former Chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for the naming of the airport.
However, days later Soz back tracked from his statement due to the mounting public pressure.
When contacted, Minister for rural development in National Conference led coalition government; Ali Mohammad Sagar said that he is not aware of the name proposed for the airport.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Masood Samoon also pleaded ignorance about the issue, when he was contacted by PBI.
Deputy Commissinoer, Budgam, Mohammad Rafi told PBI that last year the name of Sufi saint Sheikh-ul-Alam was proposed. However, he said that he was not aware of the latest development in this regard.
Meanwhile, Union civil aviation Shri Praful Patel said that all facilities at Srinagar Airport will be provided before the inaugural ceremony on February 14th.
He said he would sort out the matter regarding provision of ILS, Instrument landing System facility with the Union Minister of Defence very shortly and hoped that the facility would be provided early and announcement to this effect would be made on 14th of February 2009, when Airport at Srinagar will be officially inaugurated.
[Picture fromhttp://sufinews.blogspot.com/search?q=airport].
Barack Hussein Obama International Airport has a nice ring to it :)
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