Two-airport theory stamped in Investment Policy
Policy states that Mopa will handle 4 million passengers, Dabolim an equal number Dabolim’s role also emphasised, airline hub to be created
Unrelated to the Policy Air Asia to have India's domestic hub in Dabolim, CM's approval expected in a day
PANJIM: In what will look like a red rag to the anti-Mopa activists and people of South Goa, the task force which has drafted Goa’s Investment Policy, to which "finishing touches are being given" by the Chief Minister has formally inked the two airport theory, stating that Mopa will be ready to handle four million passengers by 2018.
A member of the task force confirmed to Herald that there was no specific discussion on this during what is being called the "winding up meeting" on the Policy on Thursday, thereby indicating that the construction of the Mopa airport will be a stated policy removing any scope for ambiguity by the government. While this does not come as a surprise, it assumes significance, since during the election campaign in South Goa, this was kept on the backburner.
The new Investment Policy to be declared very soon has said that the Mopa Greenfield Airport is going to be ready by 2018, clearly stating that it would handle 4 million passengers in addition to the 4 million capacity at Dabolim to create a total capacity of 8 million by that date.
Rationalizing that the government was acutely aware of the limitations of Dabolim on account of it being a naval airport and keeping in mind long term growth requirements, the new airport at Mopa will be set up.
For Dabolim, the Government wants create an airline hub to encourage airlines to operate more flights in and out of Dabolim, increasing the flow of tourists and businessmen into Goa.
Incidentally, at the CM’s residence today, while members of the task force on the Investment Policy headed by Chairman Atul Pai Kane were tooth-combing the final draft, in the verandah sat CII representatives to finalise the agreement with Air Asia to set up Goa as the domestic hub for the airline. CII's Kirit Maganlal whose team acted as the interface with the Goan-owned Tony Fernandes' Malaysian low cost giant, is looking to seal the deal in reasonable time which will be a huge boost to business and tourism.
While the declared intent of developing Mopa was never any doubt, the move will almost certainly spark off public and political protests in the South Goa, anti-Mopa potboiler.