The upcoming Greenfield International Airport at Goa’s Mopa has received an aerodrome license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The license paves the way for the commencement of flight operations in Mopa, which will be the second airport of Goa.
The Mopa Airport in North Goa has been built by GMR Goa International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited.
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Mopa airport will make flying to Goa easier
The airport is likely to be inaugurated by the end of this year.
Initially, the Mopa airport will be able to handle 4.4 million passengers annually. This is expected to increase to 13.1 million in the future.
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Mopa airport becoming operational is great news for the state’s tourism industry, which is heavily dependent on international arrivals.
Until now the Dabolim Airport, which is inside the INS Hansa airbase of the Indian Navy was the only option tourists flying to Goa had.
Mopa which is a civilian airport can handle more flights simultaneously than Dabolim, making it easier for both flyers and carriers.
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Dabolim will not be shut
The Goa government has clarified that the airport at Dabolim will not be shut once Mopa is commissioned.
Earlier, Goa transport minister Mauvin Godinho had reportedly said that Dabolim airport would shut down if taxi operators there did not adopt the latest technology.
The minister, however, later clarified that he was only speaking about taxi operators not adopting technology,
“I had said if taxi operators at Dabolim airport don’t shift to app-based service, then passengers will stop coming to Dabolim airport,” he said.
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After welcoming the guests at Dabolim airport, Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho said that post-COVID, people prefer to come to Goa.
“Goa is brand by itself. Goa is most preferred destination. Goa is famed for various things. Post pandemic people prefer to come to Goa,” Godinho said.
He said that e-visa issue will be sorted out shortly and more charters will arrive in Goa.
“From November 3, flights from Russia will arrive and also from the UK as e-visa issue will be sorted out soon,” he said.
“Dabolim airport will not be closed. It will not only survive, but it will grow even more stronger,” Godinho said.
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Maharashtra will also benefit from Mopa
It is not just Goa, that will benefit from Mopa airport. According to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, Mopa airport will also benefit Maharashtra for tourism.
“Mopa airport will be beneficial to the people of Goa as well as to Maharashtra as it is on border of both the states. It will be a gateway to tourism. From Vengurla to North Konkan (in Maharshtra), there are many tourism spots. This airport will help to develop these spots,” he said.
The distance between Mopa airport to Vengurla in Maharashtra is nearly 43 km.
According to Narwekar, it will be easier for tourists to visit these places after arriving in north Goa.
“Even it will be best to land in north Goa. It will benefit north Goa. Hence we are eagerly waiting for the commissioning of this airport,” he said.
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