PORVORIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, again and repeatedly, allayed apprehensions that on commissioning of the propose Mopa airport, the Dabolim facility will continue to remain operational. “Don’t unnecessarily create doubt in the mind of the people,” he told the House, slamming the opposition benches for the string of queries over fears on the closure of Dabolim airport in the future.
He explained that Dabolim airport is currently handling 7.8 million passengers annually, which is four times more than the actual handling capacity of 2.7 million passengers. “Mopa will handle 4.4 million passengers in the first phase and it is still short of accommodating around 3 million passengers if we go by the present figures. The growth of flying in Goa is 23.5 percent and this growth is despite the fact that additional slots are not available, even for charter flights,” he said, asking the Opposition to interact with the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa that has time and again raised the issue on the unavailability of slots for charter flights.
The CM further explained that as per the RFP conditions, Dabolim cannot be shut. “RFP conditions cannot be changed. Dabolim airport cannot be closed or else it will be a Vigilance case. Goa requires both airports and Dabolim will remain open as a necessity,” he said amidst interruptions from Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco among others.
“In anyway, Dabolim cannot be closed because Mopa cannot handle the increasing passengers, which is definitely to cross the present mark too in the coming years,” Parrikar reiterated.
He pointed out to the projected tourism growth stating that over 100 flights fly into Goa. “From 8 million tourists we want to increase the footfalls to 12 million in the years to come,” he said. In the reply, Parrikar recalled his tenure as Defence Minister wherein many doubted whether surgical strike really happened.
