TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Arguing that the Mopa Greenfield airport would have to rely on government subsidies till 2025 to survive, the Congress has asked the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to direct Indian Navy to hand over nearly 27.5 acres of land, including the 12.5 acres of committed land, for the expansion of existing Dabolim International Airport.
“It would be anti-Goan on the part of Indian Navy if it does not give additional land for development and expansion of the Dabolim airport,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Luizinho Faleiro told media persons on Monday.
In an open letter to Union Defence Minister, Faleiro has appealed to the Ministry to ensure that the Indian Navy keeps to its commitment made in April 2010 and hand over the promised 12.5 acres of land for further upgradation and expansion of Goa’s centrally located Dabolim airport. “In addition, three acres within the naval compound could also be handed to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for long term development of parking and aviation facilities,” the letter stated.
Faleiro, also said that in the interests of long-term planning, it would be very helpful if an additional 12 acres of land on the western side of the civilian enclave could be earmarked for future expansion of facilities as and when the need arises. “The Navy cannot afford to lie in the lap of luxury at the cost of deprivation of Goans,” he said, adding that ‘if shifting Naval base from Goa is anti-national, then not giving land for welfare of Goans is anti-Goans’.
Also pointing to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airport de Paris International (ADPi) report on dual airports, Congress leader said that both the reports were of the strong view that Mopa airport will not be able to generate cash flow to sustain the projected capital investment, signifying that the proposed airport is economically unviable and financially unsound. “It also points out that till 2025, the project would be dependent on government subsidies to break even,” he added.
Faleiro said that the ICAO report prescribes a minimum annual traffic of 24 million passengers to facilitate viability of two airports. Goa’s current traffic of 3.5 million and the project traffic is 9 million for 2035. “I don’t mind if one has another airport in its backyard provided it is feasible and viable,” he added.
