TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Monday said that a few good companies have shown keen interest in the Greenfield airport project at Mopa, Pernem and assured that precautions would be taken during the entire process.
“There is a rush for the Mopa airport project bid. Some 10 to 15 companies have already shown interest,” Parrikar told the House, on the first day of the Budget Session of the State Assembly. The chief minister was responding to a question raised by Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar whether Dabolim airport would be retained after the Mopa airport facility come up.
Parrikar disclosed that consultants could be appointed on the Board by April first week. “Request for qualification document (RFQ), which will enable the State government to short-list potential bidders to develop the airport, will probably be on the Board in next 15 days…it depends on the clearance by the Steering Commission…” he said, adding the government will be cautious to ensure that only good companies would bid for the project. “We don’t want to take any Tom, Dick and Harry on the Board.”
The government has so far acquired 1466.57 acres of land for constructing the Greenfield airport at Mopa village, while another 806 acres land is yet to be acquired. The project planned near Goa-Maharashtra border has witnessed strong opposition from various quarters, including Mopa villagers.
Parrikar while allayed fears about closure of Dabolim, saying, “Airport Authority of India runs the Dabolim Airport. They (Centre cabinet) have assured Dabolim Airport will remain even after Mopa comes up… Rs 500-550 crore are already invested in the first phase of its expansion.”
In the same breath, he added that Centre would invest more funds in the near future, for the three phase upgradation project, which will include 11 aero bridges. “The Centre cannot decide to shut Dabolim, when it is investing a huge amount,” he explained.
The existing Dabolim Airport is used as a naval base and although it is being upgraded with a new terminal, it can handle only 4.5 million passengers, due to which a second airport was proposed to cater to the air traffic needs till 2045.
The Chief Minister also expressed serious concern over saturation of Dabolim Airport. “Dabolim has crossed saturation even after expansion…there is no parking space…” he said, pointing to one of his minister colleague who was stranded on a plane for two hours as the flight did not take off due to naval exercises between 8:30am to 12:30pm.
“Mopa will be a feasible airport, having facilities for large cargo handling and adequate parking space, which does not exist at Dabolim.”
He also said that the airline operators would prefer to land at Dabolim because the landing fees would be much cheaper compared to Mopa, which would be a new facility. “It would be cheaper to land at Dabolim, so airline companies would prefer Dabolim,” Parrikar said.
To another question by Leader of the Opposition, Pratapsing Rane, whether national highway would be constructed for easing communications across different parts of the State, if Mopa takes shape, Parrikar replied in positive. He said that once the highway is complete, the average travel time to reach Mopa from Canacona ~ a distance of 120 kms, will be one-and-half hour. More so, construction of two important bridges at Talpona and Zuari is also being facilitated, however, Centre’s approval for Zuari Bridge is awaited.
The government, Parrikar said, is also seriously considering compensating Mopa farmers who lost land by either giving them another piece of land or employment. The written reply tabled in the House mentioned that a total amount of over Rs 33 crore has already been spent on compensation for the land acquired at Mopa so far.
