THE statement of the chairman of the Airport Authority of India Guruprasad Mahapatra that there was enough demand for two airports to co-exist and grow in Goa should set at rest apprehensions about Mopa taking away business from Dabolim. His statement is based on actual data. Air traffic to and from Goa has been increasing by 15 per cent on year to year basis, which was enough to sustain two airports in the state. Dabolim has been in existence for decades: the Greenfield airport at Mopa is expected to have flight traffic by end of 2020. The operations at the Dabolim airport, which is under the control of Indian Navy, are curtailed because of naval exercises for four hours from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The new airport at Mopa to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3,250 crore would be open for civilian use 24 hours of the day and would help Goans and domestic and international tourists to plan their visits according to their convenience.
Though in-principle approval for go-ahead was given to the Mopa airport project by the Centre as far back as 2000, the process of execution could begin only 15 years later. Much like other developmental projects, the Mopa airport project too was opposed by certain political forces and non-government organisations on one ground or another. Some expressed fear that once Mopa was commissioned the airport at Dabolim would be closed down for civilian use. Taxi operators and certain sections that were well-entrenched in their businesses in South Goa bewailed that they would lose business as Mopa was too far. The project was also opposed on the ground it would cause damage to the environment. It was also argued that people living in the area would be uprooted. They also demanded higher compensation for the land acquired from them. The state and central authorities had to take a number of measures and hold a number of meetings in order to allay all these fears. All the authorities concerned, from the central government down to the state government, have given a commitment that the Dabolim airport would continue to exist, in fact would be developed further. Yet certain sections keep on stoking the fear of Dabolim closure.
However, mercifully the Mopa project works have started. The authorities must make sure it was completed on schedule and opened for public use by the scheduled date. GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), the special purpose vehicle that has signed the concession agreement with the state government to develop the Mopa Greenfield Airport at Mopa, has selected Megawide Construction Corporation of the Philippines to construct the new airport. The work on the Mopa project is set to begin in the first week of March and will comprise site preparation, construction of the terminal building, air traffic control (ATC) tower, airside and landside infrastructure and other associated structures. The project is to be completed in four phases. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost Rs 1,900 crore and expected to be completed by 2020; the construction of the second phase will commence only after 80 per cent of the total passenger traffic in handling capacity is reached. The Airport Authority of India has geared itself to not only improve facilities at Dabolim airport but is also planning for its expansion. The refurbished airport will have modern toilets and inland X-ray baggage screening system in six months. It will also have a parallel taxiway to ease traffic and handle more movement, which just disproves the prophets of doom!
The growth of air traffic to and from Goa has been in double digit growth for 46th consecutive month. It is expected that the current growth rate would continue for another 10 years. With the air traffic growing in the country and the push given by the central government to developing links to smaller towns there is possibility of air traffic to and from Goa increasing further, which means many more flights could come to the state. One airport would not be able to cope with the increased load. The state has to have additional infrastructure to meet the needs of the growth. Both Dabolim and Mopa will continue to grow with the growth in air traffic. The traffic is likely to get a boost also from the fact that they are at different locations. Let us hope the prophets of doom begin to see the rationale behind another airport. Just as Dabolim created satellite businesses of hotels, restaurants, other tourism businesses and taxis, Mopa will generate its own wide range of employment opportunities for the local people.