Govt never planned to close down Dabolim airport: Patel

Panaji: Putting to rest all speculations that the coming up of the Mopa airport would lead to the closure of the one at Dabolim, Union minister of state for civil aviation Praful Patel said on Saturday that the government had “never desired nor intended” such a development.
Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new integrated terminal building at Dabolim airport, Patel said, “There was no need for any argument on whether Dabolim or Mopa would be there or not. Whatever may be the rumours, I would like to clarify that it was never the desire or intention of the government to close down Dabolim.”
Patel further said, “If any politics is being played out that Dabolim will be closed and Mopa opened, then it needs to be put to rest. Dabolim will continue and Mopa will also come up.”
The new integrated terminal building will have an area of 61,957 sq metres and will be a glass and steel structure. It will integrate a modern passenger-friendly system. It will also have central air conditioning, inclined arrival baggage claim carousals, escalators, public address systems, flight information display systems, CCTVs for surveillance and check-in counters for car parking.
Further, it would have a peak hour passenger capacity of 2,750. The present building handles an annual capacity of 25.78 lakh passengers.
“It is a great day for Goa and India’s tourism and economic development that finally the Dabolim airport is being expanded,” said civil aviation minister Praful Patel at foundation stone laying ceremony of the new integrated terminal building at Dabolim airport on Saturday.
22/02/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Feb 2009