AERIAL VEIW
Now that Mopa, after several opposition court cases, is ready to become the gateway for Goa, so one opines what would be the fate of the Dabolim airport?
Are two airports in a small place like Goa feasible? Will Dabolim only remain a cargo hub? What would be the fate of thousands of people working at Dabolim? What would be the fate of taxi owners? All these questions must be playing in the minds of Goa.
The State government still maintains that both the airports will be operational, but the million-dollar question is whether it is economically viable? Does Goa have so much air traffic that both airports could survive?
Agreed, the inflow of passengers has increased by leaps and bounds, but still, there is a huge question mark on the feasibility of both airports.
Editor, Goemkarponn
The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, has declared that the Greenfield Mopa airport would be inaugurated soon, and the commercial flights would begin on September 1.
Well, the question of whether Mopa was really required or not is now the story of the past.
The airport is getting the finishing touches, and the interiors are being done of the terminal building, the runway, the taxiway, and the tarmac are all ready. In a few days from now, the ICAO and DGCA will start inspections, while the trial takeoffs and landings will also begin soon.
Now that Mopa, after several opposition court cases, is ready to become the gateway for Goa, so one opines what would be the fate of the Dabolim airport?
Are two airports in a small place like Goa feasible? Will Dabolim only remain a cargo hub? What would be the fate of thousands of people working at Dabolim? What would be the fate of taxi owners? All these questions must be playing in the minds of Goa.
The State government still maintains that both the airports will be operational, but the million-dollar question is whether it is economically viable? Does Goa have so much air traffic that both airports could survive?
Agreed, the inflow of passengers has increased by leaps and bounds, but still, there is a huge question mark on the feasibility of both airports.
To make matters worse, there has been no clear indication from the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, on the fate of Dabolim. The answers by CM and other ministers are vague.
On the other hand, the Airport Authority of India says Goa has only one airport, but the way air traffic growth is taking place, we can see that both the airports can grow and exist.
However, ICAO – the International Civil Aviation Organisation has pointed out that the new airport will require at least 12 million departing passengers and 24 million total traffic.
ICAO report suggests that the Mopa international airport will not be financially viable even with private participation.
Now the question is not whether Mopa will come up or not; the question today is whether Dabolim will survive or not or will remain a Cargo terminal or land in the hands of the Indian Navy?
With just two months left for the inauguration of Mopa, it is time for the State government to consider the taxi operators who depend on this airport for livelihood.
Even if the traffic is divided, they will suffer major losses as the passengers would be divided.
Not just the taxis, the businesses and hotels in South Goa too will face losses. Mopa being in the North, tourists will opt for closer hotels in North Goa, which was not the case with Dabolim at the Centre.
While, Mopa should be welcomed as it is a bigger place with better facilities, which weren’t provided at Dabolim, one cannot ignore the issues of the people dependent on the old airport.
