On Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the aerodrome license to Goa’s Mopa airport. This will allow them to start commercial flight operations very soon. Also, this will be the second airport in Goa, which already has an airport in process at Dabolim in the town of Mormugao.
Mopa Airport Will Help Boost Tourism In Goa
The new airport will be about 35 kilometres from Panjim in the north of Goa. Mopa airport shall boost tourism in Goa. Because, unlike Dabolin airport, Mopa airport is located in North Goa, a hub for beautiful tourist destinations.
Currently, only 70 planes land at the civilian enclave of Dabolim Airport each day. Also, the landing facility is not permitted between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in July this year that the number of flights arriving in Goa will be increased to 150 after the opening of Mopa Airport.
Goa international airport, a subsidiary of GMR airports is developing this airport under a public-private partnership model based on design, finance, and transfer.
Also read: Book Goa Airport Buses For Just ₹200 And Here’s How!
This Airport Is Constructed In 4 Phases
Mopa airport will be built in four phases. After the launch of the first phase, it can handle 4.4 million passengers per year. So, with Phase I, it can accommodate 4.4 million annual passengers and 5.8 million in Phase II.
Phase III will increase capacity to 9.4 million passengers per year, bringing total capacity to 13.1 million passengers per year after the completion of Phase IV.
Also read: App-Based Taxi Services To Start Soon In Goa, Promises CM Sawant
According to reports, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Greenfield airport in Goa.
Source: Hindustan Times & The Telegraph Online
Cover image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons