Director, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Jammu Airport, Devender Yadav on Tuesday asserted that the ambitious modernisation and expansion project, sanctioned at an estimated construction cost of Rs 864 Cr was progressing on schedule.
“Around 70 percent of the construction work is already done, and the project, which commenced towards the close of financial year 2023–24, is expected to be complete by November 2026,” Yadav said, adding that the proposal to elevate Jammu airport into a full-fledged international airport remained under active consideration.
He was interacting with a media delegation from Bhopal, currently on an exposure tour conducted by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
During its visit to the civil enclave at Jammu airport today, September 22, 2026, the media delegation was given a comprehensive walkthrough and briefing on the airport’s existing aviation infrastructure and the ongoing large-scale expansion anchored by the upcoming new terminal building.
Briefing the delegation at the Civil Enclave, Director, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Jammu Airport, Devender Yadav highlighted the facility’s dual administrative framework, wherein the runway was maintained and operated by Defence authorities while terminal facilities, airside commercial operations and passenger management were being handled by the AAI, reinforced by robust security protocols overseen in coordination with Defence forces.
The Director elaborated under expansion the new passenger terminal space was being augmented nearly four-fold, from the current 14,500 square metres to a world-class 42,000 square metre terminal building, complemented by an additional 14,500 square metre basement.
“Peak Hour Passenger (PHP) handling capacity will scale up from 1,080 passengers (540 departure and 540 arrival) to 2,000 passengers (1,000 departure and 1,000 arrival), while the overall annual handling threshold will jump from 2.6 million passengers to 4.5 million per annum. To support increased flight operations alongside the 2,435 m × 45 m runway, the apron capacity is being augmented from 9 aircraft parking bays to 13 bays,” he shared.
The upcoming terminal complex will feature 6 aerobridges compared to the present 3, 16 self-check-in CUSS kiosks upgraded from 5, 36 check-in counters expanded from 20, and 4 baggage conveyor belts up from 2. A dedicated in-line baggage handling system and an elevated departure access road are being introduced, alongside a large-scale parking facility designed to accommodate over 500 vehicles.
Engineered as a green building, the complex is targeted to achieve a prestigious 5-star GRIHA rating by satisfying 35 rigorous energy-efficiency parameters. Presently, Jammu airport manages 15 scheduled commercial flights daily, catering to approximately 3,500 daily footfalls and recording an annual footfall of 1.4 million travellers.
Later in the day, the media delegation visited the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Jammu, where they were received and briefed by Assistant Director Jatinder Paul Singh on the rapid industrial transformation underway in Jammu and Kashmir driven by the J&K Industrial Policy 2021–30 and the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS 2021).
Jatinder Paul Singh informed the delegation that the Jammu division registered massive industrial consolidation, with 1,767 functional industrial units established on government land within designated industrial estates, representing a cumulative capital investment of Rs 13,391.46 Cr and providing direct employment to 49,795 individuals.
Under the NCSS 2021 framework, 971 units were granted registration up to September 30, 2024, accounting for a total proposed investment of Rs 14,294 Cr, including Rs 10,514 Cr dedicated to Plant & Machinery, projected employment for 51,897 persons, and estimated fiscal incentives worth Rs 32,017 Cr.
Highlighting ground-level outcomes, the Assistant Director stated that actual investment realization in the UT reached Rs 5,824 Cr in FY 2025–26, marking a 13-fold increase compared to the average annual investment realized during the pre-2021 period. Demonstrating rapid execution, 401 out of 440 registered new and expansion units, or 91 percent, have already commenced commercial production as of August 1, 2026.
He noted that for the first time in the region’s history, multiple mega industrial units with investments exceeding Rs 500 Cr each have been successfully established across high-growth sectors such as packaging, food processing, polymers, and pharmaceuticals.
The delegation was also briefed on the robust institutional support extended to investors, including a 100 percent subsidy on DG sets up to Rs 45 lakh, a 60 percent subsidy on pollution control equipment up to Rs 50 lakh, 100 percent Net SGST reimbursement for 10 years for eligible units, turnover-linked incentives for up to 5 years, and a transparent land lease framework of up to 99 years managed through the Single Window Portal.
Later, the delegation visited the field units located at the SIDCO Industrial Area to gain first-hand exposure to the functioning, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and operational ecosystem of the newly established industrial units.
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