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| Named after which Sheikh? | | Srinagar airport goes international on Feb 14 | | HAMAAD SALIF
Jammu, Jan 22: The Srinagar airport, upon its upgradation to international standard is being thrown open in the middle of next month with possibility of first inaugural flight to Jeddah but there is confusion on its name –“Sheikh-ul-Alam or Sheikh Abdullah airport?”
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Civil Aviation Minister are expected to inaugurate the Srinagar airport on February 14. The inaugural flight is likely to leave for Jeddah.
Srinagar airport did not have name till was named after the famous Sufi Saint Sheikh-ul-Alam by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government in 2003. It was a cabinet decision of the Mufti Government which was largely hailed in the Kashmir Valley.
Interestingly three years later the Union Minister for Water Resources and senior Congress leader Saif-ud-Din Soz had a faux pas when he urged the state government to name Srinagar airport after National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. As his statement appeared in the press the next day, there was a large public reaction in the Valley questioning Soz’s priority of Sheikh Abdullah over Sheikh-ul-Alam. Soz had to cut a sorry figure saying that he was not aware of the cabinet decision.
Now since the airport is ready for inauguration the authorities are in a fix over the name.
Director, Airport Authority of India at Kashmir, Rakesh Kalra said that International flights can operate from the Srinagar airport from February 14. However, he said that no proposal or communiqué 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.
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 said 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, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Shri Praful Patel held a meeting with Union Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Saifuddin Soz yesterday and several issues relating to promotion of facilities at Jammu Airport and Srinagar Airport were discussed.
Prof. Soz emphasised the fact that Jammu Airport and Srinagar Airport should have most-modern Instrumental Landing Systems (ILS) installed as early as possible. Explaining the issue Prof. Soz told the Civil Aviation Minister that provision of these facilities will help in the operation of evening flights at both the airports besides making it possible to operate flights during bad weather, especially during the winter months. Shri Praful Patel gave full assurance to the Minister (Soz) that he would sort out the matter regarding provision of ILS (Category – I) facility with the Union Minister of Defence very shortly and he 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.
In response to the demand which Prof. Soz had been persistently taking up with Civil Aviation Minister regarding direct flights to and fro Jeddah from Srinagar, the Civil Aviation Minister categorically stated that he would take all measures right in time so that the first flight would be operated on the day of inauguration of Srinagar Airport i.e. 14th February, 2009.
The Civil Aviation Minister also assured Prof. Soz that he would sort out the problems of the employees of Centaur Hotel, Srinagar regarding their regularisation, as early as possible.
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