MOPA Airport begins operation, first flight lands

06 Jan 2023 CW Team

MOPA, the newly constructed Manohar International Airport in Goa, began operating today. The first passenger flight arrived and left Manohar International Airport as a result of an event held there. General (Ret.), Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh virtually attended the event. On this particular occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Naik, were in attendance. On December 11, 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the Manohar International Airport in Goa.

General (Ret.), Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, virtual address V K Singh expressed his appreciation to all parties involved for the successful launch of Manohar International Airport's operations. He also mentioned how the new airport will significantly contribute to the nation's and the state's economic growth.

“Today is a golden day for Goa and for the people of Goa and for me too,” said Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and Tourism. He took advantage of the opportunity to recall his first term as a Member of Parliament, during the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure as Prime Minister, when he was tasked with investigating Civil Aviation issues. We began work on this airport when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was in office. Today, all of our dreams have come true," the Minister said.

In addition, Minister Shripad Naik stated that a brand-new airport would promote tourism and make Goa a hub for the export of perishable goods like fish, vegetables, and fruits. Locals' incomes would rise as a result of this, as would the number of tourists from all over India. The Union government is concentrating on Goa's development; The Minister added that additional projects will soon be finished.

According to Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Dabolim airport, which is a defence airport, restricted air traffic, despite Goa's long history as a popular tourist destination. He said that the new airport will connect Goa to 30 new domestic and 18 new international destinations.

He added that regular taxi services are gradually becoming available, and in the meantime, the State government is using the Kadamba Transport Corporation to deploy a fleet of electronic buses to prevent tourist disruptions. He said that the passenger-plus-cargo services that will be managed from the airport will make Goa one of the most exciting places in the subcontinent. He made the observation that the state administration has made a positive step forward with the recent reduction of VAT on aviation fuel from 18% to 8%. The Chief Minister stated that the Goa government is committed to providing total assistance to all stakeholders in order to write a huge success story for Goa in the tourism, logistics, aviation, and related industries.

As a tribute to late Manohar Parrikar, former Defence Minister and four-time Goa Chief Minister, the Union Cabinet approved ex post facto on Wednesday the renaming of Greenfield International Airport Mopa in Goa as "Manohar International Airport–Mopa, Goa."

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, took to Twitter to express his joy at the Manohar International Airport's opening. He stated in a tweet that the rationalization of VAT on Air Turbine Fuel and the beginning of operations would reaffirm Goa's strategic importance as a gateway to India and open new doors for tourism and employment in the state. Background Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the airport in November 2016.

The airport, which was built at a cost of approximately Rs. 2,870 crores, is based on sustainable infrastructure and features, among other things, a solar power plant, green buildings, LED runway lights, rainwater harvesting, a cutting-edge sewage treatment plant with recycling facilities, and more.

The airport's phase I will initially accommodate approximately 4.4 million passengers per year (MPPA), which can be increased to a saturation capacity of 33 MPPA. Azulejos tiles, which are native to Goa, have been used extensively. Additionally, the food court evokes the atmosphere of a typical Goan café. Additionally, there will be a designated area for a curated flea market where local artisans and craftspeople will be encouraged to exhibit and sell their products.

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