ICAO report on Mopa airport soon

The Canada-based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), official consultant to the Goa government, has proposed to create facilities for simultaneous landing of nine aircrafts at the proposed Mopa International Airport. ICAO has also proposed a landing capacity for the new, largest jest like A-380 at the airport.

According to the state secretariat sources, ICAO will be submitting its final report on Mopa by the end of the month. Mopa is about 55 km away from Panjim. Sources close to the developments said a proposal to link the expressway connecting north Goa and south Goa would also be a part of the final report.

"The report will take into consideration various economic activities like global tourists inflow into Goa, exports and imports potential for commissioning of the Mopa International Airport," the sources said.

It is learnt that ICAO will submit its report in four phases. The second phase will consist of global tendering process. Sources said the global tenders would be floated in December.

"Once the tender is awarded, the airport construction work is expected to be completed in three-and-a-half years," a senior state government official said.

The Goa government proposed to construct the international airport on a build-own-operate-transfer basis. After finalising the tender process, the government plans to create a separate department to monitor progress of the airport work.

The feasibility report will guide the government on methodology for financing the airport project. The Central government's privatisation for airport policy has laid down a clause specifying at 26 per cent equity for both the Centre and the state governments.

Sources further said the Central government may provide 20 per cent of the total cost. The state government has already begun acquiring a 1 crore sq mt land for the airport. ICAO has also proposed world-class facilities at the airport and the initial estimated cost is around US $200 million.

Before finalising the tender process, a decision-making team of the Goa government will visit five world-class international airports and then, sign a memorandum of understanding with ICAO in Montreal, Canada.