According to an interesting news report in the Herald dated August 03, 2017 (refer voice of Goa page 3), the appointment of three chief town planners in Goa is linked to the acceleration of the development process due to Mopa Airport. It is now becoming increasing clear that Mopa Airport is required to promote massive commercial development projects in the tiny rural-urban State of Goa and these projects are linked to the unsustainable hidden multi-mode/multi-modal transportation land-use plans (air, road, rail/metro, national waterways). Such type of development projects are implemented in metropolitan regions and cities.
In the year 2012, the hypothetical draft Master Plan of Mopa Airport and the hypothetical Goa Vision Document-2035 were prepared, without defining the Goa Metropolitan Region in terms of human population and land-use plans showing transportation connectivity. Now five years later, serious attempts are being made to designate the Mopa Airport Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Contractor as a Special Planning Authority (SPA) for implementing the hidden development plans.
The so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by the Mopa Airport Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Contractor is not an independent institutional authority. Hence, this so-called SPV cannot perform the role of Special Planning Authority similar to the role performed by the mandated independent Special Planning Authority CIDCO on the proposed Navi Mumbai Greenfield International Airport.
The unsustainable hidden development plans linked to Mopa Airport have the potential to completely destroy peaceful village settlement areas and eco-sensitive zones. The tiny state of Goa with a population of about 15 lakh does not need two airports to meet the long-term sustainable air traffic requirements.
The existing Goa international airport at Dabolim should be upgraded based on a 30-year master plan. The additional land required for phase wise implementation of Dabolim airport upgradation plans should be made available by the Naval Authorities to the Airports Authority of India over a period of time.
