GOA to get new MOPA Airport in North Goa, phase 1 to be complete by 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled plaques to lay foundation stones for MOPA Airport greenfield international project along with other important development projects. The electronic manufacturing Cluster at Tuem being one of them.
Mr. Modi also inaugurated phase 3A of Goa Shipyard Limited and construction of Coast Guard OPV project. The occasions were graced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Ayush Minister Shripad Naik and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. A large crowd, comprising BJP workers and senior leaders were present for the foundation laying ceremony of BJP government’s ambitious projects.
In the first phase, the state government has proposed to develop one runway, with half parallel taxi-way, three runway exits by 2020 to accommodate annual passenger capacity of 4.4 million. The estimated cost of the project in Phase I would be Rs 1,500 crore.
The new MOPA Airport is located in Pernem, North Goa, close to Maharashtra border, and is expected to be ready in 2020.
GMR Airports Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited has won the competitive bid for development and operation of the Rs 3,000 crore Mopa Greenfield Airport. The concession period for the Greenfield project will be 40 years with a possible extension of another 20 years through a bid process.
The airport will be built under the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) model.
Goa’s current airport at Dabolim caters to both civil and defense aviation and cannot handle high flight capacity and traffic beyond a certain point.
The new Airport is expected to boost the tourism sector in Goa and also provide large employment opportunities,.
The Mopa airport has also seen a lot of resistance from local protesting the need for a new airport which is being developed on agricultural land.