Leh: Political activist Sajjad Kargili has welcomed Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s strong advocacy for operationalising air services from Kargil, calling it a major boost to a long-pending demand of the region.
He said the move has revived hope that the people of Kargil will finally get the civilian air connectivity they have been waiting for over two decades.
Reacting to the LG’s meeting with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi, Sajjad noted that although Kargil airport had been announced twice under the Centre’s RCS–UDAN scheme, no commercial flight has landed there so far.
Thank you Hon’ble @lg_ladakh for raising this long-pending demand of #Kargil. Though Kargil airport was announced twice under UDAN, no civilian aircraft has landed yet. But with C-17 & C-130J already landing (2024 & 2025), it’s clear at least a 70-seater can operate here. Hope… https://t.co/fTZVfd8dim pic.twitter.com/u99KKWSyvV
— 𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐣𝐚𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢 | سجاد کرگلی (@SajjadKargili_) August 20, 2025
“The fact that C-17 and C-130J aircraft have already landed at Kargil in 2024 and 2025 shows that the airstrip is capable of handling at least a 70-seater civilian aircraft. There is no technical barrier left. With the LG personally raising this demand in Delhi, we are hopeful the Government of India will address the bottlenecks and ensure regular commercial operations soon,” he said in a statement.
During his meeting, LG Kavinder Gupta strongly advocated for starting civilian services from both Kargil and Thoise (Nubra), highlighting that road closures during long winter months leave residents with extremely limited options.
He pointed out that the current Indian Air Force-operated winter services under Operation Sadbhavana are helpful but inadequate, as they are restricted in capacity and largely cater to emergencies involving patients, students and urgent travellers.
The LG proposed that the Civil Aviation Ministry conduct a detailed feasibility study at Kargil airport with the involvement of MoCA, DGCA, AAI and other stakeholders to finalise operational standards, aircraft categories and pilot requirements.
He also pushed for regulated airfares to make flights affordable for residents and visitors and sought speedy completion of the new terminal building at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, which is vital for handling growing passenger traffic.
The Union Civil Aviation Minister gave a positive assurance, stating that the Ministry would extend full cooperation to address these issues and work towards expanding air services in Ladakh.
The combined effort—Sajjad Kargili’s persistent demand on the ground and the LG’s intervention at the highest level—has infused fresh optimism in Kargil. For years, residents have demanded reliable air services to end their isolation during harsh winters.
With both political advocacy and administrative push aligning, many in Kargil believe that the launch of civilian flights may finally be on the horizon, marking a milestone in the Union Territory’s connectivity.
