Team Herald
PANJIM: TCP minister Vijai Sardesai has said that the distance between North and South Goa has been bridged by the decision to construct a six-lane highway and a bridge over Zuari River. With the connectivity issue sorted out, Sardesai felt that there was no further room for opposition.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of inaugurating the Goa Forward Party office at St Cruz on Sunday, Sardesai justified that his protest against the project, while in the Opposition, was because it would have disconnected North district with the South.
“Changing a person’s mindset is very important. We had opposed Mopa during that time as the major issue was that Mopa airport would have disconnected north and south districts. The State government has already addressed the issue of connectivity by planning to construct six-lane highway and a bridge over Zuari River. So why to oppose Mopa now?” he said reacting to the demand by section of people that the tender for construction of Mopa airport granted to GMR International be scrapped.
Sardesai claimed that the tender for the construction of airport has already been given. “When they have broken the ground at Mopa, how can you expect me to ask to stop the project? Can anybody rationally visualise the government scrapping Mopa airport project,” he questioned.
The minister was also asked about the formation of Planning and Development Authority (PDA) exclusively for Mopa, the area around proposed airport to which he responded that the area was already notified in November 2016 by the then Parsekar-led government.
“Mopa PDA was notified in November 2016 and as the second step, PDA has to be formed. The present government has only completed the process by announcing it,” he said.
The first phase of international airport is scheduled to be commissioned by May 2020. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had mid-this year stated that the project is expected to create multiplier effect in the economy generating employment across various sectors and that the existing Dabolim international airport will continue to be operational for civilian purposes.
