Leh, Oct 12 : The new terminal building of Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (KBR) Airport in Leh is ready for inauguration, with October 15 emerging as the likely date for the ceremony, top official sources told Rising Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the state-of-the-art terminal alongside key infrastructure projects in Ladakh. However, the final decision on whether the Prime Minister will visit Ladakh in person or inaugurate the facility virtually has yet to be made, sources said.
According to top official sources, preparations are underway for the inauguration of the new terminal, which is expected to significantly enhance the airport’s operational capacity and improve air connectivity to the strategically important Union Territory.
Built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of over ₹600 crore, the expanded terminal spans more than 23,000 square metres and features a three-level structure designed to cater to the growing passenger traffic in the region.
The new terminal is expected to nearly triple the airport’s existing flight-handling capacity, increasing operations from around 18 flights to up to 54 flights a day. It will also be capable of accommodating approximately 20 lakh passengers annually, marking a major expansion of Ladakh’s aviation infrastructure.
The development is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism, particularly as Leh remains one of the region’s major tourist destinations, attracting visitors from across the country and abroad.
The enhanced facilities are also expected to improve passenger handling and support the growing demand for air travel to Ladakh, where air connectivity plays a crucial role due to the region’s difficult terrain and climatic conditions.
