‘Goans First’ for jobs at Mopa would be a precondition
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 28 October 2015 21:20 IST
Giving preference to Goans for jobs at Mopa airport would be a written precondition of Goa government to the developer of a Greenfield airport.
This has been made amply clear by Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar while deciding to invite Request for Proposal (RFP) from the five bidders.
The 15-year old proposal of Mopa airport, which is still caught up into controversy, was granted Environmental Clearance by the central Ministry of Forest and Environment on 20 October.
Following this green signal, the cabinet today approved the technically qualified bidders, who had sent their RFQs earlier.
The bidders are Airport Authority of India, GVK Mumbai, GMR Airport, Essel Infra Mumbai and Voluptas Developers.
These bidders will have to submit their proposals within 90 days, said Parsekar at the cabinet briefing.
A concession agreement would be then signed with the developer, who would be chosen from among them to build and operate the Greenfield airport.
The Mopa airport project, worth Rs 3300 crore, would be completed in four phases.
Work of the first phase, worth Rs 1800 crore, is expected to begin by July next year and completed by 2019.
It would also include an expressway from the airport to the NH17 at Dhargalim, the CM said.
After completion of the first phase, the airport would have the capacity to handle 44 lakh (4.4 million) passengers.
It would be ultimately capable of handling 1.33 crore (13.3 million) passengers when the fourth phase is completed, as announced by Parsekar earlier.
As per the directives of the Planning Commission, the government today also decided to appoint Messers P K A Advocates from New Delhi to assist the project in legal matters.
This will be a dream. Parsekar and almost all the politicians from the north will be the first to enroll hundreds of maharatrians as Goans before the airport is set to roll.