Govt to not shutdown Goa Dabolim Airport after Mopa Airport becomes functional, VK Singh quashes rumors

Dabolim airport will function alongside the Goa International Airport, which is under construction in the North Goa district and is expected to be operational in a month or so, reports ANI.

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In response to persistent rumours, General (Retd) VK Singh, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, stated on Wednesday that the Central government has no plans to close the current airport in Goa. The minister further emphasised that the Goa Dabolim airport will run concurrently with the state's brand-new airport. VK Singh made the comments at the CANSO conference in Goa, which was organised by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

"The Central government has no intention to shut the Goa airport, I am here to clarify that the new airport will not lead to the closure of the previous airport," MoS Civil Aviation General (Retd) VK Singh told ANI while refuting the rumors of Goa Dabolim airport shut down.

The new airport will get operational in a month or so, General (Retd) VK Singh said during the ongoing CANSO conference in Goa. This CANSO conference, hosted by Airports Authority India (AAI), is a three-day program that is being held at a hotel in Panaji with the theme-- Think Global, Collaborate Regional, Accomplish Local.VK Singh further clarified, "This is an unfounded perception. We have been very clear that in 2010, a decision was taken in the cabinet, in which everyone accepted that Goa will have two airports that will run parallel. Hence, there is no way to close Dabolim airport."

The Goa International Airport is an under-construction greenfield airport that is being built at Mopa in Pernem taluka of the North Goa district. GMR Goa International Airport Limited is currently developing the airport with a cost amount of around Rs 3,000 crore.

He further expressed confidence and said that the new airport will further enhance Tourism in the state and that the government will run both airports with the same pace and passion.

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant informed the people about the Directorate General of Civil Aviation`s (DGCA) conduct of the first flight at Goa`s Mopa International Greenfield Airport in September. The DGCA had successfully tested an IndiGo commercial flight from Mumbai on the runway of Mopa airport.

(With inputs from ANI)