Pandemic slows down Mopa airport work

NT NETWORK

Panaji 

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the work of the Mopa International Greenfield Airport, with the May 2022 deadline for completion of the first phase of this project expected to be extended by “a few months here and there”.

Coming out with this information, civil aviation director Suresh Shanbhogue said that there could also be cost escalations linked to this project.

“In fact, as per the contract, the expenditure is entirely shouldered by the developer of the project, GMR Goa International Airport Limited, and because of the earlier court-related matter, which delayed the work of the airport by over a year, there has been a time overrun,” Shanbhogue explained, pointing out that any time overrun naturally results in related cost overrun.

The director for civil aviation also revealed that during the initial COVID-19 lockdown, the work was stopped for 28 days, even though the developer took all care of the more than 700 labourers involved in the project, including provision of food, medical facilities, and so on.

“Unfortunately, by the time work restarted these labourers began to leave Goa for their native places,” he mentioned, adding that this was soon followed by the arrival of monsoon, and the work slowed down during the rainy season, as it generally happens for all projects involving earthwork.

Shanbhogue said the GMR Goa International Airport Limited is presently carrying out the appraisal of the cost overrun.

“The COVID-10 impact is also being incorporating in this appraisal,” he added, pointing out, “The initial estimated expenditure for phase one of the airport project was Rs 1,900 crore.”

The director for civil aviation maintained that the airport work is expected to gather pace once the rain subsides by the month of September. He also informed that presently earthwork for four-five constructions is simultaneously in progress as related to passenger terminal building, Air Traffic Control tower, technical building, administration building and so on.

“In fact, once the structures are ready, the interior work can be carried out, irrespective of rain,” he explained.

When the three-year construction period of phase-I of the airport project began on September 4, 2017, the commercial operations date fixed was September 3, 2020.

The initial estimated cost of all the phases of this project was placed at nearly Rs 4,000 crore.

The government will grant extension to the developer company for whatever period has been lost by it.