VASCO: The new Dabolim airport terminal was inaugurated on Tuesday with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh reiterating that operations would start in the first week of January 2014, but ground realities seem to suggest otherwise.
Speaking to Herald along the sidelines of the official function to inaugurate the new integrated Dabolim airport terminal building, Singh said: “Although the new Dabolim airport terminus is inaugurated, the actual operation will only take place in the first week of January 2014.”
But going by the present progress of work at the site, highly placed sources at Dabolim airport have stated that actual operations could be further delayed.
“A lot of work is pending at the new airport terminus. Besides the interior work, the aerobridges are yet to be installed at the airport. The main building has to be fitted with a central air-conditioning unit and some of the false ceiling work is still pending,” the source said.
“In addition to the other pending work, the different airline agencies are yet to furnish work on their cabins.”
“The outside airport terminal building is ready, but most of the work, including the parking lot, the lighting of the parking area, and furnishing of the various offices is yet to be completed and it will take over two-three months for the airport terminal building to be fully ready with the infrastructure,” the source added.
