PERNEM: A Pernem resident has written to the Central Civil Aviation Minister, and State authorities of Goa including the Chief Secretary, Chief Minister, District Collector and Governor, complaining against GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), for allegedly violating the conditions of the ‘Concession Agreement’ signed between all the stakeholders of the new Mopa Airport.
Citizen Dnyaneshwar Varak in an email pointed out that Article no. 5 in the agreement pertaining to the branding of the airport clearly states, “The Airport or any part thereof shall not be branded in any manner to advertise, display or reflect the name or identity of the concessionaire or its shareholders. Save and except as may be necessary in the normal course of business, the concessionaire undertakes that it shall not, in any manner, use the name or identity of the Airport to advertise or display its own identity, brand equity or business interests, including those of its shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the Concessionaire may display its own name at the spots where other public notices are displayed for the Users. It is further agreed that the Airport shall be known, promoted, displayed and advertised by the name as decided by the Authority at the appropriate time.”
“However, GGIAL is displaying its name for personal benefit and advertisement, without intimating the government, in various places,” he said in his complaint.
“At the time of inauguration, the Prime Minister announced the name of Mopa Airport as Manohar International Airport, but GMR has still displayed the name as New Goa Airport at the entry and exit points, and other places in Goa,” said Varak.
