if Goa government wanted so and that the Union government would have no objections for the same.
He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Art Gallery at the new integrated terminal building of Dabolim international airport.
“If Goa wants Dabolim to remain then it will remain. It is an infrastructure which is already created at Dabolim. Whether Dabolim would remain operational after commissioning of Greenfield international airport at Mopa, it is the state government that has to take a call and guide the central government on their stand on Dabolim airport.”
Responding to a question whether Indian Navy managed Dabolim airport will continue as a civil facility (airport), Raju said that the issue has to be decided locally. “In some states they would like to have exclusive airports (for civil operations) because that airport also starts giving returns in future. But whatever it is the government of India has thought that when airports are coming within 150 kms of existing airport, then the airport operator who is running the airport should decide because this divides the business and infrastructure, so we need to keep that also in mind,” he added.
Replying to a question on whether the Indian Navy’s activities would be curtailed at Dabolim airport to make way for more civil aircrafts, Raju said, “Country should never give up its Defence preparedness. Most of our countrymen will never like Defence preparedness to come down. We need the civil activity but it is not at the cost of Defence preparedness. Also Country’s military needs are one thing and civil needs are another. We have realised that initially it is help to make use of military facility but when you grow to your potential, that becomes inadequate,” he said referring to Dabolim airport
Commenting on the increase in the number of domestic flights in Goa, he said that “Goa has its niche in tourism; there is no doubt about that.”
“The number of domestic flights have gone up which proves that lot of Indians are now choosing Goa as their favourite tourist destination. Whereas if we look at last year’s figure then the number of Charter flights have come down. We hope that the same would pick up in the ongoing season, because these would help Goa economically,” he said
