Nations keen on inking pacts with State to operate charters or flights: CM

PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said many countries are keen to sign agreements with the State government to operate their charters or flights; however, due to lack of landing space and time slots at the Dabolim International Airport, the same could not be executed. 

Responding during the Question Hour, Sawant said that considering the existing infrastructure at the international airport, the State has an agreement with only 18 countries, but the number will go up once the Greenfield International Airport at Mopa opens,  after August 15. 

Amidst Opposition raising concerns over possible discontinuation of operation at the Dabolim International Airport, the Chief Minister assured the House that the government has no intention to shut the existing airport as Goa will need two airports in future. 

“There are many other countries waiting to sign an agreement with Goa. They want to start charter or direct flights. Currently it’s not possible at the Dabolim Airport due to lack of landing space and also time restrictions. Once Mopa Airport becomes operational, we will be able to sign the agreement,” the chief minister said.

He said only 70 flights land at the Dabolim Airport on a daily basis, as no landing is permitted from 9 am to 2 pm at the facility. After the commissioning of the Mopa Airport, the number of flights landing in Goa will go up to 150, he added. 

Earlier, Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar raised the issue in the House expressing apprehension that the commissioning of the Mopa Airport will lead to closure of the Dabolim Airport. He was backed by Yuri Alemao, who feared that Dabolim Airport will soon be added to the list of India’s “ghost airports”. GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai too expressed a similar concern.. He said that first phase of Mopa will handle 4.4 million traffic while once the Dabolim is upgraded, it will handle 11 million traffic. 

Pointing out that the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation has given in writing that the Dabolim Airport will not be closed after the commissioning of the Mopa Airport, Sawant said that that government has spent over Rs 850 crore for  upgradation 

of Dabolim airport.  “ It is not that all flights will be 

diverted to Mopa. Operations at  Dabolim will continue,” he said.