Good news for anyone flying in or out of Kashmir: the Airports Authority of India (AAI) marked ‘Yatri Suvidha Diwas’ (“Passenger Convenience Day”) at Srinagar International Airport (SXR) on June 15, 2026, spotlighting a major upgrade in facilities and a ₹1,677-crore plan to turn the airport into a world-class gateway — and smokers have something to like in the details.
The ₹1,677-crore expansion
The figures come from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval of 24 February 2026, published by the Press Information Bureau, which cleared the new Civil Enclave at Srinagar at an estimated cost of ₹1,677 crore — KNS Kashmir and India TV report the figure as ₹1,667 crore:
- Terminal capacity rises roughly fourfold, from 2.5 to 10 million passengers a year, with peak-hour handling up from 950 to 2,900 passengers.
- The terminal building grows to 71,500 square metres, of which 20,659 square metres is the existing structure, on a 73.18-acre site.
- The apron expands to 15 aircraft parking bays (nine existing, six new), including one widebody Code E stand; the 3,658 m runway stays with the Indian Air Force at Budgam.
- A 1,000-car 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 are in service in the current terminal, and the AAI counts smoking lounges among the “Passenger First” amenities it lists at SXR. The layout of the new build is not public yet — we will update this page as terminal plans are confirmed.
Update (September 2026): The Cabinet-approved Civil Enclave is still a build-out ahead rather than a terminal in use. The Press Information Bureau release sets out the new terminal’s “spacious lounges” and its target of a 5-star GRIHA rating, and publishes no floor plan; 20,659 of the 71,500 square metres it describes are the existing structure. Our Srinagar (SXR) smoking guide carries the live smoking-area locations at the terminal in use today.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Civil Aviation — Cabinet approves major expansion of Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport (official, 24 February 2026): pib.gov.in
- 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