Source: The Times of India Goa September 26, 2014
Mopa will come up even if some don’t support it: CM
PANAJI: The state government will go ahead with the Mopa airport project even if some people don't support it, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday announcing that the request for qualification (RFQ) would be issued by October 3, followed by request for proposal (RFP) in January.
"The government will issue RFQ on Mopa airport by October 3," Parrikar said on the sidelines of a function held in the city on Thursday. "The decision has been taken. Even if some people do not support it, we will go forward with the decision," Parrikar said.
Sources said that RFQ documents were ready in early 2013, but, since then the government had gone slow on the issue.
Parrikar said that the decision has been taken keeping in mind that Goa needs another airport. He also said that on Tuesday, the cabinet will discuss and take a decision on RFQ. "We should be positive about this and I am hoping for the cooperation from various organizations," Parrikar added.
The government held a meeting with the consultant of the Mopa airport and circulated the draft RFQ to the members of the steering committee on Mopa airport.
The state has acquired 74 lakh sqm of land for the airport in Pernem taluka. There have been several oppositions against the Mopa airport, but, the government has decided to go forward with the process for the airport. While taxi drivers from South Goa have opposed the airport, taxi drivers from North Goa are in support of the airport.
CM Parrikar appealed to all the organizations in the state to cooperate in the process for Mopa airport. He said, "This will help in creating employment opportunities for Goans, thus helping in making India prosperous in economic terms"
The state government will construct the Mopa airport on public private partnership (PPP) mode. The environment impact assessment (EIA) report of the greenfield international airport at Mopa is in the final stage and will take two months time for submission to the government.
The state government has made it clear that it intends on projecting Goa as an aviation hub.
