Claims EIA study is currently in process
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Almost a week after categorically stating that the “government never pushed for Greenfield international airport at Mopa”, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that the new airport project was never on “hold” and the Environment Impact Assessment study is currently in process. Parrikar asserted that six-laning of the national highway-17 from Mapusa to Margao, would be done before Mopa airport becomes operational.
While reiterating that the Dabolim international airport will not be shut down, Parrikar stated that Mopa airport will become economically viable only by serving as an export hub. “Dabolim will never be shut down…Mopa airport does not have to be economically viable only for passengers,” Parrikar told media persons, Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Minister said that handling of passenger traffic at Mopa could be considered as the last option, as more preference would be given for transportation of cargo from the areas such as Satara, Ratnagiri, Hubli and Karwar.
“Items like meat, agricultural products along with the industrial products like pharmaceuticals can be transported from this airport,” Parrikar said adding “like Doha airport, which service as a hub for Qatar, Mopa can be also a hub”. Parrikar said that once EIA study is completed, government will release request for qualification (RFQ) document and invite tenders.
Chief Minister had on November 7 said that government never pushed for Mopa airport and that the Greenfield airport will happen only if it is commercially viable. The airport is projected to cost Rs 3,000 crore.
Parrikar said that Mopa is a ‘non-financial’ (sic) Greenfield airport and that government is not going to finance the project. “We will only provide land. It is a private airport and will take shape (only) if private companies come forward. If there are no takers, then the same would be kept on hold and tendered again,” he added.
Chief Minister refused to give any deadline for the functioning of Mopa airport. He said that Government wants to promote civil aviation in the State. Parrikar also announced that before Mopa airport, the national highway, connecting South to the North would be converted into six lanes.
