While welcoming the proposal from Air Asia in using Dabolim airport as a hub for its operations, GFDO urged the government and the Airport Authority of India to recognize this as a sign of the potential for the growth of Dabolim airport and to take all necessary steps to ensure its preparedness for the anticipated increase in traffic. “The State aviation policy must lay down ways in which the government plans to support Dabolim airport and the development of its city side infrastructure, and it must be placed for scrutiny by the public with all relevant facts and reasoning, before finalization,” stated GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello.
He said while the main facilities like the terminal building, runway and existing taxiways have sufficient capacity to accept multifold growth in traffic, some important issues remain to be addressed, such as the new parallel taxiway; the land needed outside the airport for parking, cargo facilities, fuel tanks, etc (which land is being withheld by the State government); approach road upgrade and lighting; increased apron parking space (which requires small parcels of land to be given by the Navy); and improved power supply. “The state government’s studied inaction has allowed the land previously
