New terminal likely to be opened in August-Sept
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: A total of 20,000 sq meters of land is proposed to be acquired by the State government which will facilitate parking near the Dabolim Airport, according to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Goa Assembly Monday. He also said that the plan is to inaugurate the new airport terminal by August-September this year.
Parrikar told the House that the views of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) are awaited on the requirements, and whatever acquisition process is to be carried out would be done, as soon as the AAI communicates its suggestions and consent to the Goa government.
Land of 6,220 sq meters is available and is being developed for parking of 800 vehicles.
In addition the government is looking at another multi level car parking plan near the airport that could accommodate close to 600 vehicles so as to ease the parking problems at the Dabolim airport.
The chief minister also said that an amount of Rs 75 crore has been approved for grade separators that would also further ease out traffic congestion at the airport junction and highway.
“The process is on to appoint a consultant and the work should be tendered by May this year,” he said.
The execution of the work will be carried out by the GSIDC and the target is to complete it by September or December.
The government is also looking at cost sharing between the State and AAI which would bring down the cost of these works to Rs 40 crore.
“The plan is to inaugurate the new airport terminal by August-September this year,” said the chief minister and part of the grade separators should be completed by then.
He was replying to queries from Independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai during question hour.
Parrikar said that an area of 7,000 square meters earlier acquired had been de-notified by the previous government.
“It was for the new terminal and not for parking,” he said adding that if required the government can acquire it again. He agreed that the exercise to drop the land acquisition was not a healthy one.
He also said that land acquisition should not be an arbitrary exercise and land losers should be compensated.
He once again told the House that the government would be coming with its Land Acquisition Policy during the present Assembly session.
He held the firm view that land losers should be compensated at market rate.
