Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Once the flight operations resume, at least 90 flights will operate from Srinagar International Airport from May 25 and all the passengers arriving at the airport will be quarantined for a week and later tested for coronavirus before they are discharged, officials said.
Officials said that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, BVR Subramanyam, is personally monitoring the new quarantine facilities where the passengers arriving by air will be quarantined.
“Initially only 40 per cent of the flights will operate. We have upgraded the facilities at the airport keeping in view the Covid-19 guidelines. There are certain points where passengers have to strictly follow social distancing norms,” Director of Srinagar Airport, Santosh Dhoke, said.
He also said that elaborate arrangements have been made for the security staff, airport staff and the airlines staff so that there is hassle free travel for passengers.
Sources said that the administration has decided that it will offer only government quarantine facilities to passengers arriving here. “But passengers can avail hotel quarantine facility at minimum fixed payment,” they said. The paid quarantine facilities will be available in Srinagar, Jammu, Gulmarg and Katra.
Sources said that the local administration will fix rates for paid quarantine facilities. Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta, has been appointed as the nodal officer for arrivals at the Srinagar airport.
“Over 3,000 people are expected to arrive daily from May 25. In the beginning, nearly 80-90 flights will operate per week,” sources added.
All flight operations across the country were suspended, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, from the last week of March, 2020.
