Media Delegation from Bhopal Visits Jammu: Briefed on ₹864-Cr Airport Modernization and Rapid Industrial Growth
Airport expansion achieves 70% completion with target for November 2026; Jammu Division records ₹13,391 crore industrial investment, creating nearly 50,000 jobs.
Jammu: A visiting media delegation from Bhopal, currently in the Union Territory on an exposure visit organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), was briefed today on Jammu’s accelerating infrastructure modernization—headlined by the ₹864-crore Civil Enclave airport expansion and unprecedented industrial consolidation under the J&K Industrial Policy.
Jammu Airport Modernization on Track for November 2026
During the delegation’s walkthrough of the Civil Enclave at Jammu Airport, Airport Director (Airports Authority of India) Shri Devender Yadav explained the dual operational framework: the runway continues to be managed by Defence authorities, while passenger facilitation, terminal management, and commercial airside activities are operated by AAI under joint security coordination with Defence forces.
Shri Yadav confirmed that the ₹864-crore expansion project, initiated late in FY 2023–24, is running strictly on schedule. “Around 70 percent of the construction work is already done, and the project is expected to be complete by November 2026,” he noted, adding that elevating Jammu Airport to international status remains under active consideration.
| Parameter | Existing Capacity | Under Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal Building Area | 14,500 sq m | 42,000 sq m (+14,500 sq m basement) |
| Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) | 1,080 (540 arrival / 540 departure) | 2,000 (1,000 arrival / 1,000 departure) |
| Annual Passenger Capacity | 2.6 Million per annum | 4.5 Million per annum |
| Aircraft Parking Bays | 9 Bays | 13 Bays |
| Aerobridges & Check-in | 3 Bridges / 20 Counters / 5 Kiosks | 6 Bridges / 36 Counters / 16 Kiosks |
| Baggage Handling | 2 Conveyor Belts | 4 Belts with In-Line Handling System |
Engineered to meet a 5-star GRIHA green building rating across 35 energy-efficiency parameters, the new complex will also introduce an elevated departure access road and structured parking for more than 500 vehicles. The airport currently operates 15 scheduled daily commercial flights, catering to nearly 3,500 passengers per day and 1.4 million annually.
13-Fold Rise in Industrial Realization Across Jammu Division
Later, the delegation visited the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, where Assistant Director Shri Jatinder Paul Singh detailed the impact of the J&K Industrial Policy 2021–30 and the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS 2021).
Shri Singh reported that the Jammu Division currently hosts 1,767 operational industrial units within designated government industrial estates, accounting for ₹13,391.46 crore in capital investment and nearly 50,000 direct jobs. In addition, 971 units were registered under NCSS 2021 up to September 30, 2024, proposing ₹14,294 crore in overall investment—including ₹10,514 crore dedicated to Plant & Machinery—projecting 51,897 jobs and ₹32,017 crore in fiscal incentives.
Key Industrial Incentives & Execution Highlights
- Actual Investment Realization: Reached ₹5,824 crore in FY 2025–26, representing a 13-fold increase over pre-2021 annual averages.
- Execution Velocity: 91% (401 out of 440 registered new/expansion units) commenced commercial production as of August 1, 2026.
- Mega Units: Establishment of multiple single-unit projects surpassing ₹500 crore investments in sectors including pharmaceuticals, packaging, polymers, and food processing.
- Investor Support: 100% subsidy on DG sets (up to ₹45 lakh), 60% on pollution control equipment (up to ₹50 lakh), 100% Net SGST reimbursement for 10 years, and lease rights up to 99 years via the Single Window Portal.
The visiting delegation concluded the tour with on-ground visits to manufacturing facilities inside the SIDCO Industrial Area, observing firsthand the advanced automated operations driving Jammu’s emergence as an industrial hub in northern India.