Srinagar Airport entry fee has become a big issue and everyone is crying foul. Private and passenger vehicle drivers are asked to pay 40 rupees whether they park or just drop off the passengers. This has irked various stakeholders including tourist operators and local citizens who call it exploitation and a “forced tax”.
Tourists and general public are demanding strongly to remove this fee calling it unfair and unjust. But nothing has changed & this is affecting not only the tourism industry but also individuals who are just dropping off friends, family members or guests at the airport.
Several travelers have said that the entry fee is being charged even on vehicles that don’t use the parking. This has raised questions on the logic of the fee and its fairness. They say charging fee for entry without using parking services is unfair & burdensome.
It has been learnt that the contract to collect the entry fee has been given to a non-local party and hence it added to the ruckus. Many locals and tourism stakeholders are demanding immediate intervention from the authorities asking either to abolish or relook the fee.
This is the growing anger of the local population and tourism industry against the unjustified financial squeeze. Till the fee is not removed the issue is not going to settle and authorities need to intervene and listen to the affected.
Earlier on December 29, 2024, the air traffic to and from the Srinagar International Airport was restored, a day after heavy snowfall forced cancellation of all flights to the Kashmir valley.
"The flights to Srinagar have resumed and we expect normal operations," an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said.
The official further added that flight operations had to be suspended on Saturday after heavy snowfall since Friday evening.
