Dabolim airport expansion tenders in advanced stages: Praful Patel

Panaji: Union minister for civil aviation Praful Patel told Goa Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik during question hour on Tuesday that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has set aside financial support and is in the advanced stages of putting out all tenders for the expansion of Dabolim airport.
Patel told Naik that the Centre is trying to begin work at the earliest. He said, "There is nothing like a sale deed between the Navy and the government. At the moment, we function under a memorandum of understanding. All formalities are then subsequently carried out."
Naik commented that some sections in Goa are under the impression that on account of Patel's loyalty to Maharashtra, he is dragging his feet over the realization of the Mopa airport. Patel denied this belief and said that the prime minister and he himself have made categorical assertions that "Dabolim would continue to function as an airport and if there is requirement of a second airport, Mopa has to be pioneered by the state government"
Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP said that the AAI had requested for 51 acres of land from the Navy for the purpose of upgrading Dabolim airport. Upon the Navy declining this, the AAI requested it to provide 7.5 acres of additional land to extend the apron, the minister said.
17/03/10 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2010