Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that several countries are waiting to sign agreements with Goa to land their flights in the coastal state, which would be possible only after commission of greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa.
Sawant told the State Legislative Assembly that Goa has agreement with only 18 countries with the existing infrastructure at Dabolim Airport. “There are many other countries which are waiting to sign agreement with Goa, who would be able to do it after Mopa Airport becomes operational,” the chief minister said.
He said that only 70 flights land at Dabolim Airport on daily basis as no landing is permitted from 9 am till 2 pm at this facility. Sawant said that after the commissioning of Mopa Airport, the number of flights landing in Goa will touch a figure of 150.
The issue was raised on the floor of the House during Question Hour by Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar. Amonkar had expressed apprehensions that the commissioning of Mopa Airport will lead to closure of Dabolim Airport, which is located in South Goa.
Sawant said that the State government has given written assurance that Dabolim Airport will not be closed after Mopa Airport is commissioned. He said that Mopa Airport will be commissioned anytime after August 15, 2022.
“It is not that all the flights will be diverted to Mop
