Srinagar Sep 25 PTI International flight operations are likely to resume at the Srinagar airport as efforts are on to start services between here and Sharjah Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on SaturdayHe also said that the terminal at the Srinagar airport will be expanded from 25000 square metre to 63000 square metreThe first international flight connection from Srinagar to Sharjah in the United Arad Emirates will be started soon Efforts are on so that international travellers come directly to Srinagar This will be a historic decision not just for Jammu and Kashmir but the whole country Scindia told reporters hereThere will be an investment of Rs 1500 crore at the Srinagar airport while Rs 600 crore will be spent on the Jammu airportThe Jammu airport will have a new 25000 square metre terminal adding to the existing one the Union minister saidThe runway at the Jammu airport has been extended to 8000 feet and there will be no load penalty on flights at the airport from October 1 he saidThe minister said a new cargo terminal at the Srinagar airport constructed at a cost of Rs 15 crore will be made functional on October 1On the issue of landing operations at the airport here he said the civil aviation ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir administration will hold discussions with the defence ministry for the installation of CAT-II ILS system for overcoming flight cancellations due to bad weatherScindia also held a review meeting at the airport and then held an-hour-long discussion with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for strengthening the aviation infrastructure in the Union TerritoryThe minister said he has requested Sinha to consider reducing the VAT on aviation turbine fuel to one per cent which will help in attracting more airlines to Jammu and KashmirIt will be a boost for the tourism and development of Jammu and Kashmir as more flights will translate into more connectivity and more tourists he saidScindia said the lieutenant governor has also assured to transfer 122 acres of land needed for expansion of the Jammu airport to the Airport Authority of India by October 10On the same day feasibility and design studies will be started he saidScindia and Sinha also discussed ways of using helicopter services for promoting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir as it being done in states like UttarakhandOn surging air ticket prices during the winter season Scindia said he will have the alleged cartelisation investigatedWe will stop it if there is any cartelisation Also the best way to check this kind of practice is increasing the connectivity We are taking steps in that direction he added PTI SSB MIJ ANB ANB