New Delhi : The Union cabinet recently approved a proposal to designate Srinagar airport as 'international'. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel replied in the affirmative when asked if the proposal was approved at the meeting of the Cabinet.

Sophisticated communication and navigational aids have already been put in place, sources said. Designation of an airport as 'international' is made after taking into account several factors. These include the potential of traffic on the international sector, demand from there, availability of customs, immigration, health and qurantine facilities, cargo shed and adequate size of the terminal building to handle both international and domestic passenger traffic.

The decision also takes into account bilateral agreements with countries to and from where international flights are planned. A plan for upgrading and extending the terminal building and putting up all the technical facilities was already in place for converting Srinagar airport into an international one.