Good news for anyone flying in or out of Kashmir: the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will mark ‘Yatri Suvidha Diwas’ (“Passenger Convenience Day”) at Srinagar International Airport (SXR) on June 15, 2026, spotlighting a major upgrade in facilities and a ₹1,667-crore plan to turn the airport into a world-class gateway — and smokers have something to like in the details.
The ₹1,667-crore expansion
- A four-year project will lift terminal capacity roughly fourfold, from 2.5 to 10 million passengers a year.
- The terminal grows from about 20,000 to 71,000 square metres, designed to handle 15 aircraft at once.
- A 1,000-vehicle multi-level car park is part of the plan, along with a new link road connecting the airport to the Ring Road (with the NHAI).
- Traffic has climbed from 2.04 million passengers in 2014-15 to 4.47 million in 2024-25, so the extra capacity is welcome.
Smoking lounges among the “Passenger First” amenities
Here is the part smokers will appreciate: the AAI specifically lists smoking lounges among the modern facilities now available across the terminal — right alongside Digi Yatra, self-baggage drop, free Wi-Fi, EV charging, a flylibrary, a kids’ zone, and a wider mix of dining options.
That lines up with what travelers already find at SXR today: a designated indoor smoking room near Gate 7, airside in the post-security departures area, so you can smoke without leaving the secure zone, plus marked outdoor spots at the terminal forecourt before security. See our Srinagar (SXR) smoking guide for exact locations.
What it means for smokers
It is encouraging news. The Gate 7 airside smoking room and the forecourt areas remain in service in the current terminal, and with the AAI counting smoking lounges as a standing “Passenger First” amenity, the signs point to designated smoking facilities carrying through into the much larger new terminal. The final layout of the four-year build is not public yet — we will update this page as terminal plans are confirmed.
Sources
- KNS Kashmir — Srinagar airport’s ₹1,667 cr expansion, passenger-first facilities to take centre stage on Yatri Suvidha Diwas: knskashmir.com
- India TV — Union Cabinet clears new integrated airport terminal in Srinagar at investment of Rs 1,667 crore: indiatvnews.com