GMR to build Mopa airport, first phase by 2020, 4.4 M traffic
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 August 2016 20:37 ISTBengaluru-based GMR Airports Ltd has been selected to construct GoaТs new Mopa airport in four phases at the total cost of Rs 4500 crore.
The first phase of the airport is expected to be completed in 36 months, which would be around 2020.
The final price bids were opened today from among the three bidders with Essel Infraprojects Ltd and Airport Authority of India being the rest two.
“GMR is selected on the basis of the percentage of revenue it would give to the government”, said chief secretary R K Srivastava.
GMR has offered 36.99 per cent revenue to the government.
Compared to this, AAI offered 32.31% while Essel offered 27%.
While initially five parties had bid at the time of Request for Quotation, two among it – Volupron and GVK withdrew from the race.
“The process of opening the bids was delayed due to technical reasons. We are now completing the process after replying to thousands of queries”, said Srivastava.
GMR is presently operating three airports at Delhi, Hyderabad and in Philippines.
According to Srivastava, the first phase of the airport would handle around 4.4 million traffic annually.
The work of next three phases at each level would begin after 80% estimated traffic is achieved.
“The final estimated figure of traffic after the fourth phase would be 13.8 million while its actual capacity would be 28 million”, the CS said.
While the first phase would cost Rs 1300 crore, he said the airport would finally cost Rs 4500 crore.
He also said that Mopa would be the first Greenfield airport built on PPP basis in the country.
The Mopa airport proposal is coming true almost after two decades due to staunch opposition to build it on the Northern border in Pernem by discarding the Dabolim airport in Vasco.
While the controversy of Dabolim versus Mopa has divided the tiny tourist state vertically between South and North Goa, the BJP government has gone ahead with the airport.
Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar of the BJP tried to neutralise the opposition by assuring not to close down the Dabolim airport even after Mopa becomes operational.
While the bidder is finalised, the issue is expected to be echoed once again in the forthcoming Assembly election.
Dont blame BJP for Mopa, it is corrupt Congress party responsible for bringing Mopa airport.
I will vote for BJP once again rather than congress if I donot any other alternative as I came from Canacona constituency.Tawadkar is better man that pig cutter Isiodor Fernandes.
No one wants MOPA airport, only BJP corrupt governments needs it to make them a cemetery at MOPA to bury all BJP thieves.
BJP does everything without taking Goan people opinion.
God bless and save our GOA and pour curses on all Corrupt ministers.
Viva Goa
MOPA AIRPORT = LAND SCAM!