In a sharp escala tion of the battle over the fu ture of Dabolim International Airport, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday accused the BJP-led State government of main taining deliberate opacity over the airport’s fate, even as a written memorandum to the Union Defence Minister acknowledged serious con cerns about its viability. Sardesai referred to the February 10 meeting in New Delhi where Transport Min ister Mauvin Godinho and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade submitted a detailed memorandum to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding Dabolim. Sardesai questioned the State government’s repeat ed public assurances that Dabolim faces no threat.
Sardesai pointed to what he described as a stark con trast between official statements in Goa and the contents of the document placed before the Defence Minister. “This letter says what the BJP won’t. When their own minister puts the ground reality in writing, yet the par ty continues with vague assurances and scripted talking points, it stops being miscommunication — it becomes deliberate deception. This isn’t governance. It’s narrative management,” Sardesai said. He added, “Goans don’t need damage control; they need honesty. And if Dabolim is shut down under the BJP’s watch, the responsibility will rest squarely only with them. They cannot rewrite the record later.” The memorandum, submitted during the February 10 meeting, records that “many stakeholders in South Goa are concerned that shifting all operations to the new Mopa airport would be detrimental to their livelihoods and busi nesses. Keeping Dabolim open would be in the interest of economic stability for these stakeholders.” Referring to this portion of the memorandum, Sardesai said the written acknowledgment of detriment to liveli hoods and economic stability demonstrates that concerns were formally conveyed at the highest level — contradict ing the State government’s public posture of certainty. The memorandum also refers to Notice to Airmen (NO TAM) restrictions issued by the Indian Navy, specifying fly ing limitations from 0830 IST to 1230 IST and 1530 IST to 1630 IST (Monday to Friday), and from 0730 IST to 1130 IST (on Sunday). It states that “this flying restriction has result ed in shifting of majority of flights both domestic and inter national to MOPA Airport resulting in loss of traffic / reve nue and underutilisation of already existing infrastructure.” Sardesai said, “The explicit reference to loss of traffic, rev enue and underutilisation of infrastructure clearly shows that the operational and economic consequences for Da bolim International Airport had already been formally placed on record before Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh — even as the BJP continued to publicly dismiss con cerns.” Under aviation industry requirements, the memorandum notes that airlines continue to operate from Dabolim “due to reasons like operational convenience being centrally locat ed, specific flight paths, passenger demand and assurance from the state government for its continued operation.” On joint aircraft operations, it submits that Air Traffic Services is a highly professional field aimed at preventing collisions and maintaining orderly air traffic flow, citing Air Force ATS at Srinagar, Bagdogra, Pune and Yelahanka (Ben galuru), among other bases, where mixed flying of fighters and commercial aircraft has functioned successfully for years. It adds that only during war is military flying given priority and domestic or commercial flying suspended. The memorandum further refers to the Government of India’s emphasis on optimal utilisation of infrastructure at civil enclaves within defence airports. It notes that the Airports Authority of India (AAI), in coordination with INS Hansa, has implemented a Surface Movement Control (SMC) system managed by AAI Air Traffic Control Officers to increase aircraft movements per hour while maintaining safety and operational efficiency. It also highlights Dabolim’s existing infrastructure, in cluding a terminal inaugurated in 2014, describing it as a functional and established part of the State’s aviation net work. The document notes expansion of the terminal at an estimated cost of ₹256 crore to add capacity for an addi tional two million passengers annually, development of aircraft parking bays in coordination with the Indian Navy, and a proposal under consideration to acquire 7.65 acres of land opposite the airport for parking, cargo and other aviation-related activities. The renewed focus on the February 10 memorandum comes amid controversy triggered earlier when Godin ho publicly raised concerns regarding Dabolim and the functioning of the GMR-run Mopa airport. While he later issued a clarification and the BJP reiterated that Dabolim would not be shut, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he had received an assurance from the Defence Minister. The BJP subsequently accused the Opposition of creating fear among the public — a charge the Opposition rejected. Against this backdrop, Sardesai maintained that the memorandum, when read in full, exposes a widening gap between what is being formally acknowledged in Delhi and what is being communicated to Goans at home, raising fresh questions about transparency and the BJP govern ment’s handling of Dabolim’s future.
