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Goa-Dubai flight soon NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Jan 7: The Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr Shripad Naik, today said that the civil aviation ministry would introduce a direct Goa-Dubai flight shortly. Mr Naik told a press conference, here this afternoon that with the state government assuring to reduce the sales tax on aircraft turbine fuel from 20 per cent to four per cent, the civil aviation ministry proposed to reduce passenger fare on Goa-Mumbai and Goa-Delhi route. The assurance to reduce the ST on ATF was given by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, during a recent meeting, organised by his ministry to chalk out the expansion plan for the Dabolim airport. The reduction of ST on fuel would help reduce the fare by Rs 300 to Rs 400 on Goa-Mumbai route, Mr Naik said. Mr Naik also announced starting of a direct Indian Airlines Goa-Delhi flight shortly, which had been discontinued in the past. The government of India would sign bilateral agreements with Dubai, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Australia for starting direct flights from various destinations in the country this month. During this phase, Mr Naik said the ministry would introduce a direct flight between Goa and Dubai to fulfil the long-pending demand of Goans, who work in various Gulf countries. On the proposed Mopa international airport, Mr Naik said the work is expected to begin before the onset of monsoons and the airport would be built on Bangalore pattern. The estimated cost of the Mopa airport would be around Rs 15000 crore, Mr Naik said and added that private parties would get 74 per cent participation while the state and the central governments would share 13 per cent each participation in the airport project. If work starts before the monsoons it will be completed within the next 5 years. Mr Naik said global tender would be floated and added that several reputed foreign firms have shown interest in the Goa airport project. To another question Mr Naik said there was no proposal from Maharashtra for constructing any airport along the coastal belt. He also said that Air India recently started direct flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt and Mumbai-New-Jersey via Paris. Besides, in a bid to boost tourism AI has started direct flights on Bodhgaya-Sri Lanka and Bodhgaya-Bangkok route. Stating that during the first six months of the current fiscal year AI had earned a net profit of Rs 46-crore, Mr Naik said that AI was all poised to get the targetted profit of Rs 100-crore in current financial year. AI earned a profit of Rs 15.44-crore during 2001-2002. Explaining the reasons for AI earning profit, Mr Naik said the ministry has introduced new system for bookings, besides, it stopped eight AI offices in foreign countries. Besides, Mr Naik said AI has also provided voluntary retirement schemes for reducing the staff. IA and AI have forwarded a proposal for purchasing 43 new aircraft to operate on both domestic as well as on international route. Mr Naik said the proposal was pending for government approval. The total estimated cost on new aircraft would be to the tune of Rs 10,000-crore. Presently, Mr Naik said the IA had taken six ATR aircraft on lease from private airline companies and are being operated in the North-Eastern states. The ministry has taken the initiative to renovate and upgrade the country's 120 active airports. Mr Naik said an amount of Rs 13-crore has been sanctioned for Dabolim airport renovation programme. Besides, Mr Naik said the ministry had sanctioned Rs 125-crore for upgradation of Dabolim airport. The state government has agreed to provide 12 acres land adjacent to Dabolim airport for constructing new terminal for chartered flights arriving in Goa. Besides, he said the ministry has requested Indian Navy to provide its 14 acre land for expansion of the terminal. In this connection, Mr Naik said he would meet the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, this week. Informing about the activities of the Pavanhauns Corporation, which is managing the helicopter service, Mr Naik said out of 29 helicopters, 19 have been given on lease to oil companies.
