Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be inaugurating the New Goa International Airport on December 11.
Sawant also said that GMR will commence flight operations on January 5, 2023.
“Prime Minister will inaugurate the Mopa Airport on December 11, and GMR will commence flight operations on January 5, 2023,” announced CM Sawant during a press conference.
He further said that Phase 1 works of the airport are 100 per cent completed.
“As of now, international flight operations will continue at Dabolim. Twenty new routes will be added at Mopa airport,” responding to a question by the media.
When asked whether Mopa Airport will be named after former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar?, CM Sawant said that his government is in talks with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“We cannot take any decision on naming the airport; Civil Aviation Authority will do it,” he informed.
He added that the state currently depends on the Dabolim International Airport, a Navy airport.
Built at the cost of Rs 3,000 crore, Mopa will have no such restrictions and will likely further boost the tourism industry of the state, Dr Sawant added.
“The Dabolim International Airport presently handles 70 domestic flights per day from 20 states, in addition to 10-12 international charter flights.
In addition to these, over 30 domestic destinations and 20 international will be connected to Goa once Mopa Airport becomes operational,” Dr Sawant added.
Pramod Sawant said that the Prime Minister would inaugurate the Ayush Hospital and All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa Campus at Dhargal, Pernem, on December 11.
Nearly 4,500 to 5,000 delegates and experts from 40 countries and around one lakh visitors are expected to attend the World Ayurveda Congress and Expo.
