Goa favours airport at Mopa in addition to existing Dabolim

Panaji, Mar 24 (UNI) The six-member Central Committee, headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, has decided to go ahead with the construction of an international airport at Mopa in North Goa following recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This was stated by the Chief Minister in a writen reply to two questions, tabled in the State Legislative Assembly today.

Pending submission of the committee's report to the Prime minister this month end, the government had kept on hold the land acquisition proceedings for the airport as an also approach road.

The government had proposed to acquire 74.99 lakh sq mts from Chandel, Casarvarnem, Mopa,Varkhand and Ambarem villages for the airport and 8.84 lakh sq.mts for the approach road.

According to the decision of the committee, which met here on January 29 last, the existing Dabolim airport would continue to operate even after the new airport at Mopa was built. It favoured early completion of Dabolim's expansion and upgradation.

The meeting also observed that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India should make available relevant documents related to construction of Greenfield Airports at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Navi Mumbai and Noida, to Goa for study and analysis to help adopt the best modalities for Mopa airport.

It had also urged the Defence Ministry to make available adequate land for upgradation of the Dabolim airport. It also expressed concern over construction of residential quarters at the vacant land near the airport for people other than employees/officers of the Navy posted at Goa.

Besides favouring development of a 6-lane Expressway on the approach road from NH-17 (Mumbai-Goa), the committee said it should be a part of the Mopa airport project, the viability gap funding for which could be made good by the Centre.

The Joint secretary (civil aviation), who is the convenor of the committee, will prepare a draft report incorporating all the decisions of the committee with its recommendations for submission to the Prime Minister at the earliest.

UNI BM OBB RSA RK2000