PERNEM: As Goa waited for the Prime Minister to land at Mopa airport and then get airborne again on a chopper to Panjim; the ground beneath- the National Highway 66 linking Mopa to Panjim and further south -was chocked as traffic was stopped for long stretches of time.

Ironically, the PM’s chosen air route was intended to save time and avoid public inconveniences.

Congestion was witnessed at many places.

The police diverted the traffic and stopped vehicles from entering Mopa. Traffic snarls continued for over an hour till the Prime Minister left the area.

Hundreds of people from Pernem taluka were denied entry into the venue of the Manohar International Airport at Mopa as police stopped the entry two hours prior to the arrival of the Prime Minister.

With high hopes to see the Greenfield International Airport, which is come up in their very own taluka, hundreds of villagers thronged Mopa. However, they were disappointed when the police stopped them from entering the airport. Many people were denied entry as they did not possess passes/cards.

Many people said that they had come to see the new airport and not to see Modi. “We had come here to see the new airport. Our children were very excited, but we were not allowed to enter in,” a stranded visitor rued.

Some people were denied entry saying that the place was packed beyond capacity. Another visitor alleged that there was no proper management and that government officials on duty were ignoring them. “Even after having a pass, we were denied entry. We were waiting in a queue for hours. They should have given a pass as per the available occupancy and not haphazardly. If the pass is not valid then why were we asked to waste our precious time?” he asked.