There should be no opposition to Mopa airport: TTAG
28 April 2012 3:26 PM GMT
Amidst political opposition for the proposed Greenfield airport at Mopa, the Goa tourism industry feels that the new facility is a must to address the growing needs of passenger and cargo traffic in the state.
Travel and Tourism association of Goa (TTAG), an umbrella organisation of tour operators, has said that Dabolim airport, which is currently managed by the Indian Navy, will not be able to handle futuristic aircrafts and does not have cargo airplane handling facility.
'The Union government has already clarified that the Dabolim airport will be retained even after Mopa is constructed. There should be no opposition to new airport,' TTAG spokesman Ralf D'Souza said.
United Goans democratic party (UGDP), a regional political outfit, has expressed its opposition to Mopa airport on the grounds that this development on the northern border of the state will spell doom for tourism in the southern part.
D'Souza said that Dabolim airport is being expanded with construction of new terminal building, creation of apron space to park aircrafts and aero bridges for the passengers. The airport will be tendered to run on built, own, operate transfer (BOOT) basis by September 2012.
The airport, according to D'Souza, has limited scope of expansion as Indian Navy is also operating its base (INHS Hansa) from there, but once Mopa is commissioned in 2015, it will be able to host wide bodied aircrafts carrying 700-900 passengers.
Goa's development as a cargo hub is also possible only through the new airport, D’Souza added.
Travel and Tourism association of Goa (TTAG), an umbrella organisation of tour operators, has said that Dabolim airport, which is currently managed by the Indian Navy, will not be able to handle futuristic aircrafts and does not have cargo airplane handling facility.
'The Union government has already clarified that the Dabolim airport will be retained even after Mopa is constructed. There should be no opposition to new airport,' TTAG spokesman Ralf D'Souza said.
United Goans democratic party (UGDP), a regional political outfit, has expressed its opposition to Mopa airport on the grounds that this development on the northern border of the state will spell doom for tourism in the southern part.
D'Souza said that Dabolim airport is being expanded with construction of new terminal building, creation of apron space to park aircrafts and aero bridges for the passengers. The airport will be tendered to run on built, own, operate transfer (BOOT) basis by September 2012.
The airport, according to D'Souza, has limited scope of expansion as Indian Navy is also operating its base (INHS Hansa) from there, but once Mopa is commissioned in 2015, it will be able to host wide bodied aircrafts carrying 700-900 passengers.
Goa's development as a cargo hub is also possible only through the new airport, D’Souza added.
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