AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
ZUARINAGAR, VASCO: Alarm bells have started ringing with regards to the construction of four-lane flyover from Zuarinagar to Bogmalo, which could spell “doom” for commercial flight operations at Dabolim International Airport if the Indian Navy grants No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the flyover.
Part of the flyover work, started by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), falls under the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) and construction with no NOC from the Navy leads to violation of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) parameters.
The permission from the Navy is essential can be seen on Page No. 79, point 6 of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Notification of September 30, 2015, which states: “The following steps shall be taken for calculating the maximum permissible heights for cases where there is a requirement of NOC from AAI or from Defence authorities.”
Annexure 14 of the notification reiterates on Page 108 “ICAO Annexure 14 surface height in metres provides maximum heights in metres” and if not adhered to, commercial flights will not be permitted.
“The construction of pillars from MES College junction to MO Goa junction is approximately around 20.8 metres high when the maximum height permissible for safe landing of an aircraft is nine metres. What NHAI has built is more than double the height,” said a shocked petitioner and retired Indian Navy officer Cdr Atul Pant.
“The distance of the flyover that is detrimental to the survival of the Dabolim Airport is approximately around 1.8 to 2.2 kilometres and this needs to be demolished,” disclosed Cdr Pant.
An engineer on condition of anonymity said, “This is another classic case of the government thinking that they can keep lying to people that the Dabolim Airport will not shut down. If so, why was the NHAI allowed to build the flyover despite four objections by the Navy whose NOC is mandatory?”
“The maximum permissible height , according to the ICAO guidelines adhered by the ministry of Aviation is 150 metres, following height table is indicative only and in no way assures the height permissible at a given site,” reads the notification.
Despite four attempts by the Navy warning NHAI of the need to follow aviation procedures, the latter refused to seek the necessary permission from the former thus implying undercurrents to silently bring commercial operations at Dabolim airport to an end. “Delhi may put enormous pressure on FOGA to give NOC, but one has to realise that they would be dealing with a bunch of people for whom the integrity of the country is paramount,” stated a retired bureaucrat on condition of anonymity.
“This is a continuous effort of the BJP government to close down the Dabolim airport surreptitiously so that all business goes to GMR, a private firm close to the BJP,” alleged Viriato Fernandes, South Goa Member of Parliament.
“All property around Mopa airport has been bought by casino operators and a lot of them have stakes in the hospitality industry. By getting this flyover built without necessary permission, the government intends that all commercial operations will be stopped,” the MP confirmed.
From April 2, 2024 till February 15, 2025, according to Airport Authority of India (AAI) figures, 7.33 million passengers landed at the Dabolim airport and the authorities expect the figure to cross the eight million mark.
Businesses located within the vicinity of the Dabolim Airport and all over South Goa started soaking in the news of stay granted by the Goa Bench of the High Court with hurt feelings.
“It is shocking that the government allowed the highway authorities to go ahead with the work despite the Navy writing to Mormugao Planning Development Authority (MPDA) not to permit it. When questioned, we were told the flyover is being built to ease traffic,” shuddered transport operator Tari Lamani.
A businessman on condition of anonymity said, “I have been running my family business and it frightens me that our government is at any cost trying to shut this airport. Our MLA (Mauvin Godinho) keeps promising us that Dabolim Airport will not be closed. If so, why have they allowed this flyover without the permission of the Navy?”
“The BJP is only looking at the closure of Dabolim Airport from the business point of view. It is not the government, but the friends of BJP who stand to gain. Nowhere have two airports in such close proximity ever been able to survive. Even one of the airports at Hyderabad had to close,” stated Fernandes.
If the government wants the people to believe that the Dabolim airport is here to stay, it will have to ask the NHAI to demolish approximately the 1.8-2.2 km flyover stretch from MES College to MO Goa junction or realign work on this stretch or face the wrath of people from South Goa.