G-20 meet: Arrangements are in full -swing: Dir Srinagar Airport

Srinagar, Apr 08: With Srinagar all set to host a working group meeting of tourism delegates from the G-20 nations in the last week of May, Director Airport Authority of India (AAI) Srinagar, Kuldeep Singh on Saturday said that arrangements are in full swing.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Singh said various amenities are being spruced up in view of the G20 meeting and handling tourist footfall in peak season.
“Walls are being painted and decorated. Plants and flowers are being planted to make it more attractive and beautiful. Overall the port is being renovated so that it gets a good look, so that it will have a good impression on G20 guests and tourists,” he said.
“Singh said more bagging checking machines will be introduced and other facilities are also being upgraded at the airport. All arrangements are being finalized”, he said.
Another official said electric vehicles will be introduced to ferry passengers are among the key measures to be undertaken to handle increased footfall at the international airport ahead of G20 events and the tourist season.
“Police facilitation counter will also be set up to cater to complaints and grievances of tourists. There is also a proposal for an extended baggage-cum-check-in counter at the Tourist Reception Centre, aimed to reduce congestion at the airport,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh and Director General Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) Zulfiquar Hasan, and top officers of the civil administration and police, the Central Reserve Police Force, tourism department and the airport held a review meeting related to various security aspects and functioning of Srinagar international airport.
During the meeting, measures to ease congestion such as increasing the number of baggage checking machines at the main gate and introducing electric vehicles to ferry passengers from the main gate to the terminal were discussed threadbare.
“These measures will help the airport handle more air traffic, especially in view of the upcoming G20 visits, tourist season and the Amarnath yatra,” they said.
During the meeting, it was discussed that to ensure that no passenger is over-charged for any service, including taxi services.
The security audit of the airport and its surrounding premises will be conducted to neutralise any threat.
Kashmir will be hosting the G20 meeting in May this year. It will be the first major international summit to be held in J&K after it was divided into two Union Territories in August 2019.
G20 brings together 19 of the world’ leading economies and the European Union, with its members accounting for more than 80% of global GDP, 75% of global trade and 60% of the global population.