TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With a total of five bidders shortlisted for the proposed Greenfield International Airport at Mopa, Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar gave assurance of finally commencing preparatory work at the site by December-end.
Speaking at a press briefing after inaugurating the Paryatan Bhavan in the capital on Saturday, he insisted Mopa is a necessity to handle the bulk arrivals in addition to the existing Dabolim International Airport.
“Even after the expansion of Dabolim Airport with full-fledged functioning capability and additional facilities in place, we require one more place. I am confident the actual spade work will begin by December-end,” he said.
Parsekar added that the government has shortlisted five bidders for ‘Request For Qualification’ (RFQ) for the development of the airport in terms of design, build, finance, operation and transfer (DBFOT) basis.
Meanwhile, the process for drafting ‘Request for Proposal’ (RFP) has been initiated, after which the financial bids will be opened. An official said that by July end, the bidder for the construction of the airport would be finalized.
As per the RFQ document, the airport – which is being constructed on a public-private-partnership, will be developed in four phases. Phase-I is expected to be completed by 2020 and will cater to 4.4 million passengers while Phase II is likely to be ready by 2025 and this will handle 5.8 million passengers.
Referring to road and related infrastructure across the State, he went on to add that the Central government has already funded Rs 1,100 crore via a revised formula while the State is directly benefiting from national schemes like connection of states via national highways. In addition to this, the Centre recently approved a massive fund of Rs 5,000 crore for developing better road connectivity in a bid to also reduce the burden on the existing roads. The State is also expecting Central funds to enhance the power sector.
