Folks,
Prof Philip Thomas raises many relevant issues about Dabolim and Mopa airports. My own knowledge and experience of the situation may not be as extensive as his but being a simpleton I fail to understand why the Navy cannot move to Mopa or Yenkebe or even both if necessary. If I understand it correctly:
1. The Central Government is going to meet a large part of the costs of the new airport in Goa. They could instead fund the Navy's new base.
2. Passenger terminals are not required by the Navy and it would be a shame to build new ones at Mopa and demolish the Dabolim ones.
3. The Navy needs an airport in a remote area both from the point of security and safety.
True, there are 5 airports in London in close proximity. Besides, Heathrow itself has four terminals with a fifth under construction. However, these have grown over a period of time due to passenger demand - not because the Navy wants to play at being Dog In The Manger! Only last week we had the instance of a plane which got delayed at Mumbai and was then unable to make the flight to Goa since the time was outside the permitted civilian slots. The passengers had to spend the night in Mumbai.
From Times of India, 31 Dec. 2004:An IA spokesperson said that the Goa flights were disrupted due to early-morning fog. "It delayed the movement of aircraft. The airfield at Goa airport closed at 7 pm," he said.
It does appear that vested interests are fighting for a new airport at Mopa. Some politicians have acquired vast tracts of land there - just before the Government announced plans to build the new airport!!!
Cheers,
Eddie Fernandes
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