PANJIM: The State government is awaiting an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalise the date for commissioning the Greenfield International Airport at Mopa, next month.
With its Aerodrome Licence from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on the way, the airport is now a step closer to becoming operational. A successful trial of flight landing was conducted earlier this month.
Speaking to Herald, Director of Civil Aviation Suresh Shanbhogue, said that the new airport is set to be commissioned next month.
“We are just waiting for an appointment from the Prime Minister’s Office to finalise the date for the inauguration. The project will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced that the project would be launched on August 15, on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day. However, the same could not take place.
Shanbhogue said that the department is also in the process of receiving the Aerodrome Licence from the DCA.
“Slot booking for flights will also commence shortly,” he said, adding that an Indigo Airbus A320 equipped with required navigation performance (RNP) equipment landed at Mopa Airport and then took off successfully, completing the airport’s RNP procedure for both approaches of the newly-built runway.
The foundation stone for the ambitious second airport in the State was laid by the Prime Minister in November 2016. The project is being implemented through GMR Airports Limited.
The Mopa Airport is being constructed in four phases with an annual passenger capacity of 4.4 million in phase I, 5.8 million phase II, 9.4 million in phase III and 13.1 million in phase IV.
Shanbhogue said that the authorities expect to cover all four phases within the next five years. “If we manage to cater to 80 per cent of the expected 4.4 million passenger traffic within a year, then we will soon go for its second phase expansion catering to 5.8 million people,” he explained.
He said that the airport has an ultimate capacity of 28 million passengers per annum with a provision for a dedicated cargo facility, by end of four phases.
