from daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, Jan 23: Goa will study the feasibility of having two airports in the state before going in for a new international airport proposed at Mopa in North goa, Goa chief minister Pratapsingh Rane said today.
Replying to a question on the floor of the house, during the state legislative assembly session today, chief minister said that Mopa international airport issue has been kept on hold pending advice from the Prime Minister who has appointed a special committee to probe into the total question of setting up of the Mopa airport.
"Four meetings of the six-member committee appointed by ministry of civil aviation have been held so far. The first two meetings were inconclusive as except for exchange of views by the members on the existing Dabolim airport and proposed Mopa airport," Rane said. .
The controversial Mopa airport issue came before the state legislative assembly today when BJP legislator Laxmikant Parsekar sough to know the present status of the land acquisition process for the proposed Mopa airport.
"In the third meeting, after deliberations, it was unanimously decided that in the short run, the upgradation and expansion plans of Dabolim airport should be implemented on priority by union government," the reply tabled on the floor reads.
"In the long run, the need for the proposed Mopa airport would be further examined by the committee," he added.
The chief minister said that in the fourth meeting the co-opted experts appointed from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Airport Authority of India (AAI)
recommended the conduct of additional techno economic feasibility study relating to co-existence of Dabolim airport and Mopa airport.
"Such a study would enable the committee to properly assess and evaluate issues and take a considered decision," Rane said.
Read more on Mopa, from Daijiworld archives: