IAF to vacate Leh airport, to develop another base

Similarly, the Army has agreed to vacate a large tract of land presently under its control in Kargil district, adjoining Leh, in Ladakh, which will be used for the expansion of the town. Army will be given alternative land. 

A meeting held by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Asgar Hassan Samoon on Friday was told that IAF has agreed to vacate the Leh airport which will be handed over to the Airports Authority of India for expansion as part of efforts to encourage tourism in Ladakh region, an official spokesman said here on Saturday. 

The meeting, also attended by officials of IAF, Airports Authority of India and civil administration, was informed that the state government has identified land in lieu of the existing IAF airbase in Leh. 

The IAF officials, who attended the meeting, said the alternative site offered by the state government in Leh has been examined by experts and they are ready to take over if the state government finalises the deal. 

The Divisional Commissioner was informed that the modalities are being worked out to shift the existing airbase in Leh to the Airports Authority of India which will expand it for civilian purposes, the spokesman said. 

Samoon said the paperwork to finalise the deals should be done on priority so that it is transferred to the civil government by the end of February. 

He said that the transfer agreements should be taken up on priority to fully exploit the huge tourism potential of Leh and Kargil which in turn would generate much needed employment opportunities for local youth, the spokesman said.