The central agencies constructed the new terminal building of Dabolim airport with all modern facilities by spending over Rs 350 crore. The aim was to provide world class facilities to passengers considering that Goa is an important tourist destination. But after spending so much and there being an increase in the number of passengers and flights, Dabolim International airport has been facing an acute crisis due to insufficient parking facilities.
Asked for the reason behind this neglect, those working at the airport told Herald, “Plans for Mopa airport is the only reason the State government is not so keen on resolving the issues at Dabolim Airport.”
Whether this allegation is genuine or baseless only the concerned people in the State and Central administration could throw a light on but it is a fact that Dabolim airport has been facing total neglect when it comes to parking facilities.
According to Airport Authority of India (AAI), Goa Airport, there has been consistent growth in passenger traffic since the new airport was thrown open. However, some felt that the response to support this growth with passenger amenities is lacking.
“Last year we had 4.5 million passengers and this year we are expecting to cross 5 million. Similarly last year the average number of flights operating from Dabolim International Airport was around 50 to 54 (excluding charter flights) and this year we are expecting it to cross 63 flights per day. We require more parking facilities on priority. We have been continuously initiating dialogue with the state government,” said K S Rao, Director AAI, Goa Airport.
Members of Dabolim Airport Advisory Committee (DAAC) also feel that the issue of parking has to be resolved on priority. At DAAC’s last meeting this was raised but till date the problem remains.
“I think the authorities concerned are paying lip service to the genuine demands of parking. No authority appears to be moving a finger. Had they been serious of solving this issue they would have found a solution by now,” said Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho. “My duty as MLA is to raise this issue and to tell the concerned authorities to find a solution but sadly nobody is moving and they don’t seem to be serious about the airport parking,” Godinho added.
At the second meeting of the DAAC held in May last year, the members had sought a report from the AAI on the existing parking facilities. They acknowledged that there has been constant delay in resolving this issue and opined that AAI requires more land for parking facilities. It was then decided to seek an appointment with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar so that the issues can be discussed and brought to a logical conclusion. After eight months there is no sign of the meeting, said a DAAC member.
“Actually we had tried to fix a meeting with the Defence Minister on two or three occasions but due to his busy schedule we were unable to meet him. Parking is one important issue and I am sure very shortly we will have this meeting to discuss and resolve this issue” said DAAC Chairman MP Narendra Sawaikar.
Meanwhile airport users are upset with the approach shown by the officials in resolving this issue. “I remember the statement made by Parrikar in October 2014. He had said that the parking space at Dabolim airport is super-saturated and there is need to get some more land from the Defence Ministry for additional parking space. Now he is occupying the post of the Defence Minister, is flying down to Goa and returning to Delhi every week using the same airport. But he no longer talks about additional parking space as if things have changed at the airport after he became Defence Minister,” said Nitin Kadam, a resident of New Vaddem Vasco.
As per the AAI’s data, the airport has parking facilities for 200 odd cars. Another 15 coaches can be parked on the city side parking facility. Besides that AAI has made parking provision by constructing a multi-level car parking building having facility to accommodate 540 cars at a given time. This building was completed a couple of years ago along with the integrated terminal building of Dabolim international airport, but was not put to use due to security reasons.
“We wanted to use the building to resolve parking problem but the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has raised some security issues. To sort this out we even extended the terminal building thereby blocking the view from multi-level car parking building. Let’s see when we get the BCAS clearance,” said AAI director K S Rao.
Under the present scenario, the four lane road (NH17-B) has become a new parking slot. Besides, few are using the land adjacent to the navy compound and opposite the Airport to park their cars.
For over 500 yellow black taxis operating from Dabolim Airport, the parking options are very limited (only 25 percent of the parking slot opposite the main entrance of the old terminal building). For 3000 odd staff working at the airport there is limited car parking facility due to which many are forced to use two wheelers. For passengers it is ‘No parking’ all over (except for availability of 100 odd cars in the pay parking slot).
“If we calculate the available parking slots at present and even if we include the facility of the multi-level car parking building there is a shortfall as the new Dabolim Airport requires nothing less than 1000 car parking facilities and we are not having even half of it. This gap needs to be filled on priority,” said a traffic police official at Dabolim airport who wished not to be named.
