Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday allayed fears that Goa International Airport at Dabolim in South Goa will be shut down.
Sawant termed the statement by the opposition parties that the airport at Dabolim would be shut down as a political stunt.
The political parties, including Goa Forward Party, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party, had expressed apprehensions that Dabolim Airport would be shut down for civil operations, leaving the facility exclusively to be used by the Indian Navy.
Dabolim Airport is a part of the Indian Navy’s INS Hansa base but has also been used by civilian flights since its inception.
Every time there is an election, the opposition parties scout for some issue, the Chief Minister said on Friday while talking to reporters at Porvorim.
He said that there is no possibility of shutting down Dabolim Airport.
Referring to the statement made by South Goa Member of Parliament Viriato Fernandes that he had seen the document about the shutting down of the airport, Sawant said that the MP was making a political stunt with such a statement.
The MP comes out of Parliament House and then makes such statements. He is making a mockery of Parliament. It is a highly respected place, the Chief Minister said.
Sawant said that the Centre has recently spent Rs 450 crore on constructing a flyover at Dabolim Airport.
This is in addition to Rs 400 crore spent on the infrastructure upgradation of Dabolim Airport in the last 4–5 years, he said.
Sawant said that the investment in the facility is made so that it can be used for civilian flights.
The Chief Minister said that the airport at Dabolim will remain available for both the Navy and civilians.
Goa will continue having dual airports, he said, pointing out that there is a Union Cabinet decision not to shut down Dabolim Airport for civilians.
