Centre signs MoU with GMR for airport at Mopa

PANAJI: Ministry of civil aviation and GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GMRGIAL) signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Delhi, on Friday, for necessary support from the Centre for developing the international greenfield airport at Mopa.
The MoU was signed in the presence of civil aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Speaking to TOI, director for civil aviation S Shanbogue said that with the signing of the MoU, GMRGIAL will get all the required support from the Centre for the development of the Mopa airport.
Signing of the MoU is the part of the concession agreement signed between the state government and GMRGIAL, he added.
As per the concession agreement, the company will have the right to operate the business for 40 years, extendible by another 20 years.
Soil testing has been completed and land will be handed over to the company next month after which they will commence the work, Shanbogue said.
On September 20, 2016, GMR Airports Limited had given its acceptance to the letter of award issued by the state government to it on September 17, 2016, for construction of the greenfield airport.
While the project is likely to cost over Rs 4,500 crore, the first phase of the project is estimated at Rs 3,100 crore, including escalations. The airport will be completed in four phases, of which work on the first phase is expected to be completed by 2020.
During the first phase, the airport will handle 4.4 million passenger traffic per annum. At present the international airport at Dabolim handles 5.5 million passengers per annum.
Work on the second phase will commence only once 80% of passenger traffic is handled.
The airport, which will cover a total area of over 81 lakh sq m, will be built on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis.