Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday said that there was no question of the Dabolim Airport closing down. Godinho was speaking to reporters after Inaugurating the underground cabling at Dabolim Airport in the presence of Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and others
“This is fake propaganda and there is no question of Dabolim Airport closing down. We have just inaugurated an underground cabling work here and the Goa Airport is continuously taking a lot of development works including new parking space, a new Airport terminal and additional aero bridges to increase the facilities for the passengers,” Godinho said.
He said that flights have begun from Mopa but they are flights from 23 new destinations and not shifted from Dabolim.
“We need both airports for handling the rising number of passengers and I will put this issue to rest once and for all after the assembly. The CM Dr Pramod Sawant along with me and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte will be meeting central leadership for resolving this issue,” he said.
Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao said that airport expansion works could be completed by June next.
“We will add 2 million passengers once the building is commissioned and the total passengers handled will be up to 13 million. We have already addressed many issues and we are adding more facilities including car parking space and other amenities,” he said.
Rao said AAI is improving cargo facilities further and there is no question of Dabolim Airport closing down. People are speaking without knowing the nitty gritty of the things and when the Airport Authorities have never said that Dabolim will close down, there is no need for any clarification on this issue.
“The airport is for the people who can decide the airport based on their convenience,” said Rao.
