Closing down Dabolim air port impossible: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 19 July 2012 13:40 IST
Closing down Dabolim air port due to Mopa air port is not possible after spending around Rs 500 crore on expansion of the existing air port, said chief minister Manohar Parrikar today.
He also informed the Assembly during the Question Hour that the ongoing expansion work could be made operational by February next year.
Replying to the question raised by Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, the CM said he would take up the issue of handing over additional land of 2.52 acres by Naval authorities for the civilian air port after the expansion work is complete.
He admitted that the actual plan of building total 11 aerobridges may not be possible for want of land, but said the existing land can build not less than seven aerobridges.
Parrikar informed the House that the existing air port cannot take the increasing demand of passengers and flights, due to which the expansion has become inevitable.
The existing air port has the capacity to handle only 900 passengers per hour, but actually handles almost 2000 passengers.
Dabolim air port presently handles 3.5 million passengers and almost 25,000 flights every year when the present capacity is to handle at the most two million passengers.
Replying to the query raised by Vasco BJP MLA Carlos Almeida regarding parking of taxis, Parrikar said a new building coming up near the air port has a provision to park 500 vehicles while it can be expanded for total 1800 vehicles.
However, he admitted that the problems would be solved only when the Navy hands over additional land of 2.5 acres.
“I have already taken up the matter with the prime minister and would pursue it after the existing expansion is complete”, Parrikar assured.
