Mopa Airport gets a security clearance. Here is how...

The Union Home Ministry has given a security clearance for the construction of GMR Goa International Airport (GGIAL) in north Goa. For the upcoming greenfield airport at Mopa, the state government has obtained the approval of Megawide Construction Corporation and Dubai Consultants. The construction of the airport has started and to monitor the construction, the government has appointed Engineers India (EIL). During the time of tendering, the Philippines’s leading engineering and infrastructure developer company, Megawide Construction Corporation was finalised and they engaged the services of Dubai-based consultants as there was a need for a second round of security clearance. As per the officials, all the inputs from the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis were sought and conveyed to the state government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It was also stated that any feedback from the agencies on the grounds of national or economic security will be informed to the concerned ministry. While the inputs are shared with the concerned administrative ministries so they can take an appropriate decision, the decision of granting or denying security clearance lies in the hands of MHA. A concession agreement was signed between GGIAL and the Government of Goa for the development and operation of Moha airport in 2016. Post two years, Megawide Construction Corporation, who was the lowest bidder, was selected. As per the signed concession agreement, GGIAL has the right to operate the business for 40 years and is extendable for another 20 years. Of the four phases of the project, the cost of Phase I is Rs 31 billion and is expected to be completed by 2020.