Team Herald
VASCO: Former president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) Nitin Kunkolienker has said that the proposed Mopa airport would change the prospects of industries in Goa, as exporters and importers from Goa are facing problems at Dabolim airport.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Goa Air Cargo Association (GACA) Meet-2016, held at the Ravindra Bhawan Baina on Friday.
“The current airport at Dabolim does not have proper facilities to handle cargo. At present, transhipments have been taking place from Mumbai which in turn have increased the cost of transhipment as from Mumbai to Goa; the transhipment cost is about 20 to 30 per cent which is very high for a sector like Goa. Thus, when Mopa becomes a reality, we will have direct cargo handling facility in the new cargo hub as announced by the government. This new facility will encourage dedicated freighters to come and set their base at Mopa. Also, Mopa will not only help industries in Goa but will also be of high use for the entire western part of the country,” Kunkolienker said.
“When we consider electronic consumption, the same is 65 per cent of the total consumption in west and south. Thus, for the Asia- Pacific market, Mopa can act as a new venue as Mumbai or other airport cannot grow more like Mopa which is at initial stage and is centrally located. Once Mopa becomes reality, we will have international connections from Goa; therefore, we should not look at Mopa as Goa’s tourism prospective but as the new cargo hub airport,” he said.
Goa Air Cargo Association Chairman Mario Furtado claimed that “Importers and exporters from Goa have been facing problems at Dabolim due to the restriction. Presently, only 150 kilos of cargo with 1.5 metres height is allowed to be transhipped using Goa airport. Goa can do a lot, but as Mopa airport will be taking bit more time to start, we need to do something in the meantime for Dabolim to increase the cargo movement from Dabolim airport.”
Chief General Manager of Western Region for Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) Sharat Chandrayan said, new facilities would be set up to cater to the needs of Air Cargo Association.
